Evening star., 1943-04-10
The Price in the Pacific

The Price in the Pacific
Victories in North Africa and
| prospects of assaults on the Axis
European fortress should not lead us
to forget the twin war we are wag-
ing on the other side of the globe
against Japan. The past two days
have given us three grim reminders
of the nature and extent of that
struggle. These are statement from
General Douglas Macarthur, a speech
by an Australian cabinet minister
and the news of big air battle over
Guadalcana..
General MacArthur's statement
yesterday was prompted by the sad
anniversary of the surrender of
Bataan, which marked the end of
organized resistance in the Philip
pines. His words are tinged with
bitter Illustration. When Macarthur
obeyed orders to leave Bataan and
proceed to Australia, it is said that
he believed he was to organize
an immediate offensive which might
conceivably relieve his besieged
comrades. He had hoped to find
Australia in the process of being
built up into a gigantic spring.
board by flood of American troops
and supplies crossing the Pacific.
Instead, he found the commonwealth
itself in danger of a japanese in
vasion, the cream of it's own troops
far away in Africa or Malaysia, and
American aid a trickle instead of a
flood.
The ensuing year has not basically
changed that situation. Thanks to
brilliant leadership and prodigies of
valor, the japanese advance has
been held up, but Macarthur has not
been given a tithe of the aid neces-
sary for the great commemorative
he had in mind. Our overall strategy
has been to concentrate on the
European end of the Axis, so the Pa
ciflc and the Far East have had to
take the leavings.
Indeed, it is not certain that even
the minimum of reinforcements
needed to contain the Japanese is
being sent. For months, American
and Australian leaders on the spot
have warned Washington of heavy
japanese concentrations all along
the vast island arc above Australia,
and the large-scale japanese air raid
at Guadalcanal last Wednesday,
precipitating the biggest aerial bat
tie since November, indicates their
dogged determination to strike at US
regardless of losses. Meanwhile,
Japan consolidates her vast new-won
empire, and Macarthur prays that,
for the Philippines, "the day of sal
walton be not so far removed that
they perish, that it be not again too
late
Such fears, combined with frank
criticism, were voiced by DR.. Herbert
Evatt, Australian Minister for Exter-
nal Affairs, on Thursday before
San Francisco audience. En- route to
Washington charged with a mission
from Prime Minister Curtin, DR..
Evatt said that, when the beat
Hltler-first" strategy was determined
upon, 1T was always recognized that,
although an all-out offensive against
Japan might have to be postponed,
she must be prevented from making
further gains and not permitted to
consolidate her enormous territorial
and economic gains" Yet DR.. Evatt
implied that not even this minimum
was being supplied, asserting: I'm
fortunately it often depends upon
others down the line to assess what
is needed"
DR.. Evatt typifes the view held by
our own military and naval men in
the Pacific as we'll as by virtually all
Australians. 1t is likewise the pre-
dominant attitude in China, which
has had a fresh disappointment IN
Its hopes OF larger aid by the break
down OF the British campaign in
Burma. Such sentiments must be
taken into account. They indicate
a sense of grievance and latent re-
sentiment at what they deem unjusti-
he'd neglect which might have grave
consequences if the japanese high
command should unleash fresh
large scale offensives either in the
South Pacific or in China. A wise
ratio between the two segments of
the war must be maintained.
Whon>o - DID,