Evening star., 1943-04-14
What Is japan Up To?

General Sir Thomas Blamey's
warning yesterday that a new Japa-
nese offensive in the South Pacific
may be imminent is the latest of
series OF recent statements similar
in tone by official spokesmen in Aus
tralia, notably by Prime Minister
Curtin. General Blamey is COM
mander of Allied ground forces
in Australia and it's New Guinea
outpost. Speaking from General
Douglas MacArthur's headquarters,
Blamey told press conference that
the japanese are concentrating
their aggressive Intentions along
the vast island arc north of Australia,
where they have already developed
to strength of 100000 first-line
troops and powerful air force" He
interpreted the recent big japanese
air raid on Port Moresby as the be-
ginning Of large-scale operations,
since the Bismarck Sea disaster had
taught the Japanese they must first
gain control of the air before moving
warships and troop conveys into the
disputed zone.
If General Blamey and Premier
Curtin are correct in their judg-
ments, the japanese are set to make
great effort to regain the strategic
initiative they began losing when our
marines made their surprise descent
on Guadalcanal last August In that
case, hard fighting is due in the
South Pacific area, and General
Blamey predicts that "the result of
this struggle in the next few weeks
will have the greatest Importance
for u.s." The Australian thesis is be-
ing vigorously pressed here in Wash
ington by DR.. Herbert v. Evatt,
Commonwealth Minister for External
Affairs, sent hither on a special mis-
sion by Premier Curtin to plead for
more American aid
Apparently, Secretary of the Navy
Knox takes less grave view of the
current situation in the South Pa
cif1c than do Australia's spokesmen.
The Secretary told his press confer
ence that he had not determined
whether Japan's strengthening Of
her positions north of Australia are
offensive or defensive in character.
Specifically discussing General Bla-
mey's statement, he said he did not
know what forces the Japanese had
there nor what they would do with
them. Mr.. Knox discounted the i'm
minence Of a Japanese attack on
Australia, which would involve "a
tremendous sea force, and there is
no indication Of concentration
pointing to that" But General
Macarthur was quick to point out
that the Japanese threat to Australia
does not require an initial concen-
tration of sea power; the power Is
there already, within striking dis
tance, and can be held at bay only
by allied air superiority.
We are here confronted with what
seems to be not merely a sharp diff
ference in the Interpretation of the
South Pacific situation but also of
the facts themselves. To the layman
it may appear strange that Secretary
Knox denies knowledge Of Japanese
preparations on which General
Blamey in Australia is so specific.
Which one is right presumably can
be disclosed only by subsequent de-
velopments, but the man on the spot
should know what he is talking
period is starting in that theater of
war.
For some time military commen-
tators have been divided on two hy-
potheses. One theory is that Japan
will take advantage Of American
commitments in North Africa and
Europe to launch large-scale often
sives in the Pacific The other theory
is that Japan's assumed shortage of
shipping commits her to the stra-
tegic defensive, consolidating her
vast new empire which she hopes to
make impregnable, given time to or
ganize and exploit it. This latter
theory does not accord with the
traditional canons of the Japanese
general staff, which favor unremit-
ting offensive strategy aimed at the
total defeat of the enemy. The bull
dog tenacity with which the Japa-
nese have clung to every position,
regardless OF losses, seems to indicate
that Japan's present leaders are dis
posed to hold every inch of past
gains and recover those temporarily
lost. A permanent defensive would
logically be repugnant to such men,
talities.
An industrial trouble shooter
claims that married women make
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