Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-01-07
Echo Over the Pacific:
divided We Fall!

DINI0S0 w y 0us
THE war in the Pacific is approaching a showdown
between the United Nations. with The prospect that
il viii materialze somewhat sooner than the ultimate
showdown between thorn and Japan.
Tho Chinese military mission which has been
negotiating Washington for greater assistance to China
against the japanese has been ordered home the mpl
cation being that the Chinese not pleased with the
results.
Almost simultaneously Prime Minister John Curtin
Of Australia made an official statement that:
THE United Nations in the Pacific area are being
denied for their total effort which il
invaluable them and being reserved by
Japan for building up her capacity not only to wage
but to resist offensive
The consequences of this oninous situation said Mr.
Curtin, not difficult to forcsee.
There is doubt that Japan is consolidating the
gains she has made.
DELAYING an offensive against her makes ii certain
that the offensive when undertaken will experience
greater resistance
Iron the beginning, the in the Pacific has been
/ source of grave concern and deep mystery
In the very beginning Of course it of
severe defeat and unavoidable treat-because the
japanese prepared and the United Nations
prepared
But when the initial attack subsidized and the Japanese
paused to enrench themselves in their positions Of
and Hawaii remained in hands with their lines Of
municaton and supply intact.
This gave us our great opportunity .-frst to
barrcade the Japanese against further advance; and
second to organize the inevitable ofense against the
Japanese must conduct if we are to win this war
THE question now is concerned with whether or we
L have made the most Of that opportunity.
Mr.. Curtin obviously believes we have not
He says the United States should send MORE land,
naval and strength the Pacific and that this is 1.-The
which the Australian government has repeatedly put
to leaders of the United Nations
1t would be a fatal situation-but fortunately
which does not exis the total forces and
AVAILABLE for the United Nations in the Pacific
not sufficient to win the
Is it not therefore, potentially fatal situation
and at very least of the utmost grayy-when some
of the United Nations believe and assert that available
forces and resources are DENIED to them?
This situation does not create confidence and unity
among the United Nations
Particularly it does not offer the prospect of winning
the war at minimum cost and in minimum time
THERE are of course, many things about the war in
l the Pacific which must be granted.
Our communications and supply lines are perhaps
the longest most difficult and most hazardous main
tanned in any
Much of the action is jungle warfare, in which
forces had no prior experience-but in which they are
acquitting themselves wonderfully we'll
Island bases have been established and held against
unimaginable natural odds well against numeri-
cally superior enemy
Naval operations have of necessity been anchored in
labyrinth of islands and reefs which ships had
BEEN before.
So the actual record Of achievement is very good and
indeed borders the miraculous.
But is it all that it might have been? Is it all that
it must be if to have longer and harder war
than necessary and perhaps disastrous end to the
war?
CLEARLY, our overall war policy and program should
- be re-examned in the light Of past failures and
mistakes and especially in the light of our present.
opportunities and requirements for victory.
The in the Pacific must be won if America is to
LIVE We should conduct it in al manner to assure us
that America WILL live