Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-09
Protect u. S. First


JAPANESE aircraft have resumed attacks American
shipping and naval positions, presumably from their
strongly held base at Kiska.
The official American communique makes light of the
most recent attack saying only two enemy planes were
involved and no damage was inflicted
1t should not be taken lightly
THE japanese operating from American islands,
| deep in a vital of American defense.
They are holding Kska and other islands IN the outer
Aleutians chain in unknown but substantial force.
They have already raided far east as Dutch
Harbor, adjacent to the North American mainland
1t must be assumed they constantly improving
their positions certainly for other reason than to
extend their operations against the mainland
THEY expect to attack Dutch HarbOr again. we may
be sure
They intend to attack and occupy Alaska if they
They surely contemplate attacks and occupations
along the entire North American coast not excepting but
especially including Washington, Oregon, California and
Lower California.
Hence none of the Japanese operations in the Aleu-
tians area should be held lightly.
The American people, matter of fact have never
held them lightly
1t has been almost a year since the Japanese
able to without opposition into Kiska Attu Agattu
and the controlling waters.
TT WAS confidently expected they would be elected
bed and there serious question of our possession
of sufficient forces of determination to utilize them
for the desired and indicated purpose
However the Japanese are still holding all of the
original positions they have not abandoned of their
votion and unquesonaby growing stronger in them
The limits Of "soon possible" have been strained
out of all reason understanding and explanation.
We have had production of materials in the
meantime unprecedented in all history
of6 mon NOR
w than 100000 of whom
We have restored replaced the damage done at
Pearl Harbor.
The United States is a formidable military power
now perhaps the most formidable in the world, not
potentially but actually.
The time has come for showdown not only between
adequate and efficient American forces and the nvad
ing Japanese forces securely nested within vital
continental defense zone, BUT BETWEEN THE AMERI
CAN GOVERNMENT AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
OF COURSE, whenever it has been suggested previ-
~ ousy that the Japanese should be thrown out of the
Aleutians and the American West Coast be thus made
against attack the has always been that
we must remember the global character of the war.
The inference has been that it is short-sghted and
sef-centered to want local" security in such big
The American people have been exhorted to be patient
until their government gets around to providing for their
security at home meanwhile hoping the japanese will
also wait.
THIS has never satisfied the American people.
1t satisfies them less than
1t is humliatng to have the japanese occupying and
holding American territory
1t is dangerous and potentially and mminently tragic
to have powerful and ambitious and ruthless enemy
door, and apparently immune from election there
from.
Why must "globa" war be conducted at the expense
and risk and dire peril of the American homeland and the
American people?
Why do we not make our American security our first
consideration Soviet Russia effectively and admir-
ably makes Russian security the first of her detectives
and England does and China, and every nation but
America?
PRIVATE BUCK :. By Clyde Lewis