The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-04-26

Friction Develops
Between japanese,
Axis Partners
BY Charles p. Stewart

JUST AS UNCLE SAM is pretty
impatient at Russia for not goins
to war with Japap-thus dlstractng
the Jsps from their southern and
southwestern Pacific campaign SO
are the Jsps fretted by Herr Hitler's
delay in swooping down via the air
upon New York and Washington,
and so does Berlin blame Tokyo's
sirmen for being so slow in de-
scent upon the American western
coastal mainland.
Complaints have been picked up
over the radio from both directions.
There is a disadvantage TO the
United states in being threatened
from two sides at once.
The threateners' difficulty is that
they cannot coordinate.
Germany is too busy in the west
ern ocean ITO bother with Japan.
Japan is too fully occupied in its
Pacific sphere to raid farther than
tho extreme Orient, beyond the
Alaska tip and the further direction
OF Britain's Pacific islands and Pa
cific semi-continentals, toward Ha-
wall and our own continental coast.
II is an inconvenience TO the
United States to have enemies from
opposite points Of the cmpass at
once, but it also is an inconYen'
fence 70 the two arms Of the Axis to
be split up. as TO attacks on us.
What Germany wants, manltestly.
is a fierce Jap sWipe along our Pa
cific seaboard, from Alaska on
down, forcing US TO concentrate
there. tying US up on its side OF the
Atlantic and on into the Mediter-
ranean. Nippon, correspondingly.
would have its hands relatively free
to the other side Of the conflict.
We are sore on Russia, for not
pre-occupying Japan. We are sore
on Russia, too for not enabling US
TO bother Nippon to the westward.
Germany is irritated because Japan
is derelict in keeping the latter
swamped on ITS side OF the globu-
lar side OF the fence. Japan is sore
on Germany for not keeping the
Mikado clear throughout the East.
According 10 experts, it is large
ly question OF aviation.
No authority contends that Ger
mans or Japs can effect a landing
OF consequence on American soil.
What the Japs are expected by
the Germans TO do is 10 scare Yam.
KEGS to death by destructive air
raids on big American cities, like
Washington's Oregon's and, espe'
cially, California cities. They just
want 10 brighten them.
They figure that destruction OF
San Francisco. ct cetera, will COM
plete the dirty york.
How local populations, in this
country, will acquiesce in this pro-
gram, have my doubts.
From lifetimes residence
among German-Americans, my dope
is that they are as Americanly loyal
as any other kind OF Americans.
From several years residence in
Hawaii, would gamble on the
Japs also.
They act like it, as IL they arc
being assimilated.
Some authorities say Axis air
raids on the western hemisphere
would boost the hemisphere soil.
darity.
It is understandable
They would not amount TO much
They would make our western
hemisphericals as mad as hatters.
Brazil physically wants to get in
to the war. II has landed troops
abroad.
The Brazilians are on the wrong
side OF the continent to clash with
Japan. The western South Amer
lcss. though. are eligible.
The Germans angle Of the var 10
comprehensive, all right
But 1t does not coordinate very
we'll with the Japs.
They both want 10 lick us, but
they cannot well do il IN partner
ship. Their respective interests con-
fllct.
Germany wants TO defeat US at
Japan's expense. Japan wants to do
1t a GermaDys expense. Aud-to
hades with the other belligerents.
Those two are the principal ones
Air raids on the United States
are the pub Of AXIS strategy
But they would be awful costly
japan might pull one OF, at its
short range. and get its planes
home again. Germany could not do
it. though. Any planes II sent to the
United states must be permanent
losses.