Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-09-26
TIE
War Today
u. S. Nearly Set
TO Quit Isle Hops
on Road TO Tokyo
fSss Hap N Column )
Nv CLARK II. WOODWARD


Rear Admiral 1. = Navy. Retired
Copyright istS. la's--Hr7-s' News SERVE
IN THE current glohal war
rt1e tUrr- Stairs 5r'G1 rr7C
Western Hem sphere have the
ineSumable geographic and Stra-
tegic advantage Of OCcupN
the central position b ou * b
themselves lying IN a thcatcr
virtually immune from attack
In consequence the United
StateS-beCauSe of It's unlimited
resources and great productive
capacity-iS able 10 produce,
unrnoleSted. all the Sinews Of
war. not only for itself, but also
for all the Allies
At the same time 10 is carry
Ing the war 10 the enemy, both
in the Atlantic ana the Pacific
the strategy Of the two thea
tiers being lnterlocklnE and de-
pendent
UNITED STATES sea power
was used 10 strengthen ITS own
oversees bases anti commurica-
lions, and 10 establish bases
close 10 the enen1y,s outer de-
Tense peripherleS, 10 cut his
lines Of communication and de-
strey his bases
From It's central position be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific
the United States is able 10
quickly shift its naval forces
from one ocean 10 the other, via
the Panama Canal. for the pur-
pose of influencing the course Of
action in either theater.
However, as both President
Roosevelt and Secretary OF the
Navy Knox have revealed, the
greater part of American sea
power is now in the Pacific,
and the number of ships of all
types is being increased rapidly.
The major offshore bastion in
this theater-and the center of
our Pacific defense-is the naval
air base al Pearl Harbor. where
the commander in chief Of the
Pacific feet has his headquar-
tiers.
IN THE northern Pacific the
Aleutians occupy a very stra-
tegic position and form Amer
ica's northwestern frontier.
The northwestern Pa If c
naval force, being so close 10
Japan's northern outpost. VIII
be a constant menace 70 the
vital lines Of communication
connecting them.
Moreover, should Russia
eventually participate in the Pa
Gifts war, which is not improb-
able, the American naval forces
in this area would be permitted
to use the Kamchatka base at
Petropavlovsk and the base at
MISUNDERSTANDING easy bomb
ing distance of the industrial
centers of Japan. AS the con-
Meeting link between the United
States and Russia, therefore.
the Aleutians are Of critical i'm
portance.
Whiting down OF the
eneny's crucial sea and air
strength, and keeping the sea
lanes clear, keeps the American
naval and air forces constantly
on the move. With each sue
cessive land victory new bases
are seized and built up into
dangerous offensive salients--
always nearer 10 Japan. Thus
with the capture. last week, of
Lac and Salamaua, New Guinea.
the main japanese base at
Rabaul is now in close range
and in great jeopardy.
RABAUL IS 800 miles south
of Truk-Japans great naval
base. From Rabaul American
planes and submarines could
conduct a campaign Of attrition
against that strong bastion and
weaken IL seriously. However,
Truk probably would not fall ex-
cept by direct amphibious
assault.
In any event. the United
States naval forces in the Pa
cific are becoming strong enough
10 take on the whole japanese
fleet without other assistance.
In consequence Of this improved
picture, long desired forward
steps in this theater-instead Of
island hopping now in
the realm Of possibilities.
Under such conditions the
Americans basic purpose is TO
compel Hhe japanese 70 fight
which Admiral Halsey has been