The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-01-14

considerably be-
lated in making their discoveries.
Nobody ever suspected the Japs
OF any lack OF courage. AS COM
batants they are outright suicidal
Their competency at utilizing it
has been questioned, though.
And It has been taken for grant
ed that, limited to their rather re-
stricted archipelago. they must be
decidedly cramped for resources to
conduct prolonged hostilities.
The Occidental account has been,
for years. to the purport that Nip
pom, while a frst-rate imitator OF
western improvements, both mill
itary and miscellaneously indus
trial, adopted them not overly un-
derstandingly. For instance. years
ago. when l visited the islands, q
highly ornamental line o. trsnspa-
cihc japanese passenger craft was
in service. Folk were well fed,
comfortably accommodated and
the discipline was admirable. The
Japs are good servants all right.
That point wasn't disputed.
But those boats were Offered
exclusively by Europeans or Amer
cans.
/ asked the captain IA Yankee,
to explain it TO me.
well. you see he said. to a
landsmans naked eye these Jap
made tubs appear perfectly ad-
mirabie, but it takes an expert to
keep them floating right side up
The Great DeIusion:
Such, in that day, was the gen.
eral verdict OF all Occidental resi-
dents in the Far East, concerning
everything Oriental - all deceiv-
ingly imitationary.
Maybe it was Occidental preju-
dice.
Or maybe the Orientals learned
their lesson and are up-to-dste
now.
Anyhow, there are no Occidental
misspprehensions at the current
writing.
Indeed. it's quite a consensus
that Japan may be harder to- IN
ish of than Germany
Italy doesn't signify. It is agreed
that she will fold up as soon as she
realizes that AXIS defeat is certain.
The Germans know when they are
licked, too. as previously has been
demonstrated.
Japan, it is conceded, is liable
to be far more difficult.
For one item. It has geogrsphi-
cal advantages. She can be out
classed at sea, but 1t is not so easy
to lick her ashore. Besides being
intrinSically scrappy. she is far
more Efficient than was anticipat-
ed. Japan is not nearly as purely
initiative as was surmised Fur
thermore. she has made gains that
put it largely upon an independent
basis.
Joseph c. Grew. our ex-smbss-
sador to Tokyo has rubbed this
idea into Washington for all he is
worth.
Crews getting attention now.
Our Chief Foe
II is matter Of some conse-
quence to Britain, but still more
so to the United States. The Japs
swipe Us first.
Psychology figures in the equa-
ton.
50 does geography.
Britain can take its time in deal
ing with the Jap threat against its
Oriental possessions. our interests
won't wait. We've got those
Philippines to consider. Washing
ton is full OF Filipinos, hollering
for help.
The theory is that Herr Hitler
Ia the first miscreant 70 be smashed.
Perhaps. But that doesn't reckon
with Premier TOTO Of Japan. En-
peror Hirohito is a mere figure
head. TOTO is the head OF the COM
parstively few miltsrists who boss
the job. There aren't many Of
them proportionately but they are
in supreme authority. Long after
the main war is finished they cab
keep it going indefinitely.
They don't care a boot for the
Axis; Japan is what they are tight
ing for.