Evening star., 1943-07-04

While Munda is not yet occupied, the
rapidity with which the Allied forces
have progressed since the initial attack
indicates that it soon will be taken over.
During the engagement no Japanese
surface ships we're encountered although
the Japs did throw considerable num-
Der of planes into the resistance but at
2 cost which Japan can i'll afford. On
wednesday American pilots and anti
aircraft gunners in the task force shot
down 10l Japs and the next day % more
were added to bring the bag to l23 while
American losses were confined to Is
planes and Is pilots.
The American transport McCawley a
converted Grace Liner, was sunk by a
japanese torpedo, but not until all those
aboard had been safely landed There
were no casualties, excepting few at
the actual time of the torpedoing.
Yesterday a japanese task force of
three cruisers and four destroyers at
tempted to smash the American land
ing on Rendova, but was sent reeling
back to sea when an American force
near shore swung into action. Damage
from the attack was light.
An air raid also was quickly broken up
Churchill Renews Pledge.
Anticipating defeat of the Axis in Eu-
rope before Japan suffers the same fate,
Prime Minister Churchill, speaking in
London Wednesday, declared that every
man. every ship and every airplane in
the Kings service that can be moved to
the Pacific will be sent there for as
many years as are needed to make the
japanese in their turn submit or bite the
dust" thus reiterating the pledge he has
given so often that the United States will
war in the Pacific.
The size of the British stake in the
southeastern part of that ocean and in
the Indian Ocean lends emphasis to that
pledge.
The speech, which was delivered in
it, offered no comfort to Hitler and Mus
solini and did nothing to lift the curtain
behind which is hidden the Allied plans
for invasion. Turning poetic for the mo-
ment, Mr.. Churchill declared that very
probably there will be heavy fighting in
the Mediterranean and elsewhere before
the leaves of Autumn fall, statement
which the unhappy Axis leaders accept
without dispute. And in the meantime,
the long arm of the American and British
air forces will reach deeper and deeper
into the enemy territory, seeking out his
war industries and other military objec-
tives and giving them first-hand infor-
nation as to the effectiveness of Allied
bombing, Mr.. Churchill promises further.
Probing into the Italian nerves, grown
sensitive under past, present and impend-
ing air raids. Foreign Secretary Eden
suggested to Mussolini that in the name
of humanity, Italy surrender now. He
warned that if the course of the war
should make 1t eXpedient. Rome will be
bombed as heavily as other Italian cities
and propaganda leaflets to this effect
have been dropped during recent raids
over italy.
Warn Against Peace.
Fascist propagandists were quick to
combat any defeatist sentiment by warm
ing Italy that separate peace would be
another case of out of the frying pan
into the fire, Virginio Gayda, foremost
among the spokesmen, pointing out that
the nation could hardly escape the raw
ages of war by retiring from the fight
ing because the remaining belligerents
would make the country battle-ground,
and total war recognizes no obligation
to spare the innocent bystander.
The Italian press during the past
week universally acknowledged that an
invasion attempt is probably near and
tain bridgeheads on the mainland
though such bridgeheads, most OF them
declared reassuringly but no doubt with
mental reservations, will be quickly
crushed and the invaders expelled.
The great battle of production and
transportation is being rapidly won by
the Allies and the prospects of a fairly
early victory are much brighter. In fact.
1t. Gen. McNarney deputy chief of
staff, told the Senate Appropriations
Committee. 1t was reavealed last Mon
day, that the United Nations are rap
idly approaching final victory and that
the war will be brought home to Japan
in such manner that the entire nation
will feel its full impact in most violent
and destructive way. In reply to ques-
ton, the general qualified his comment
to the effect that any opinion that the
war would be over by Thanksgiving lis
slightly overoptimistic."
A dispatch from London, quoting 're-
liable British and foreign sources de-
clared that German production had
fallen of badly and that Germany had
passed its peak as a warmaking power
and was definitely on the downgrade,
though with plenty OF fight still left.
Oil Reserves Low.
Going statistical, the dispatch re-
ported that German steel production has
fallen of at least 10 per cent and that a
waning electric power supply had suf-
fered serious. if not Gripping, blow
with the bombing of the Moehne and
Eder Dams. Oil reserves have fallen to
a dangerous figure with only about
100000 tons left in the face of 12000,-
900 or 13,000,000 ton normal requirement
for Germany and 2,500OO-ton need for
Italy. Those requirements are greatly
increased with the expanded consump-
ton arising out of heavy campaigning,
for the moment not occurring.
To meet the demands. Germany OBJ
tains about 100000 tons from the Ru-