Evening star., 1943-06-08

both sides.
These are the David Lawrence.
defensive, the offensive, the defen-
sive- offensive and -defen-
sive.
The average observer understands
the terms defensive and offensive
but is not SO familiar with defen-
sive-offensive or offensive defensive.
The United States assumed the Of
fensive- defensive in the Solomons
last summer. This is so character
ized because the plan of campaign
was not so much to strike at the
heart of the enemy, but to protect
the Hawaii-Australia supply lines
against possible incursions by the
Japanese.
Today in the Aleutians, the United
States Is again on the offensive
defensive in capturing Attu and in
seeking to acquire Kiska. Both
these points originally were seized
by the japanese as part of their
general offensive which began at
Pearl Harbor.
Move to Protect Alaska.
The effort of the United States
now to take these back is more to
prevent the japanese from making
further advances toward Alaska
than really to begin any series of
offensive moves looking toward the
occupation Of other Japanese-held
islands or the japanese mainland
At any moment, of course, as the
area of operations is extended, the
offensive defensive can turn into a
full-f1edged offensive.
1t is the defensive offensive, how
ever, which Is often misunderstood
Thus the operations in New Guinea
are really defensive operations to
prevent the japanese from invading
Australia. No operations in and
around New Guinea and Australia
are really aimed at the japanese
mainland or at the core Of the
Japanese strength.
Germany is at the moment con-
sidered to be weighing the posi-
bility Of offensive thrusts which will
more securely intrench her military
position. She can do this by tnvad-
ing Spain and thus compel the
United Nations to move forces
toward the western end Of the Med
iterranean or she can divert the
forces Of the United States and
Britain toward the Eastern Mediter.
ranean by a new counterattacl
against Russia in the Caucasus or
elsewhere along the long Russian
line
Real Puzzle in Asia.
While the newspaper headline.
are full of talk about invasion
jitters' In Germany, there is NJ
certainty but that the Axis may
decide to move on the offensive
The Axis position is for these rea.
sons kot described as wholly de.
fensive, but defensive offensive.
In Asia, the real puzzle occurs
The experts here frankly do no
know the meaning of the variou.
Japanese moves. They cannot I'm.
derstand why Japan does not ust
her huge army in Northern China
either to attack Russia or to crush
the Chinese. Likewise, it is no
clear just why the Japanese do no
move on Running, which is one o
the points they can reach through
Northeastern Burma and thus in.
terfere seriously with air supply
routes into China.
Now that the monsoon season ha.
begun and operations in Burma b,
the British American forces have
been checked. the expectation Il
that some offensive move by the
japanese may materialize any day
AS the weather grows better in the
Aleutians, it is possible that tn,
Japanese may send their surface
fleet into action there to assist ir
holding Kiska.
Facilities Stepped Up.
Meanwhile, the strategists wht
determine our policy must be ready
for all eventualities, and they cannot
explain their reasons until after the
war is over. There was time wher
both Attu and Kiska could have
been taken by the United States
There was time when Rangoor
might have been taken by the Brit
ish and an opening into China fol
trucks and supplies made secure
There was time when Americs
might have moved directly on some
OF the japanese air bases in thu
Pacific, but the only answer thai
can be made now is that the United
States ever since June, 1910, has
deemed 1t wise to send weapons ane
supplies in greater part to the Eu-
ropean than the Pacific theater.
Now, however, as ship building i.
attaining phenomenal records anc
as the U-boat sinkings are being
gradually diminished, the trans
portation facilities for stepped-ur
operations on both the European
and Asiatic fronts would seem tc
be growing more and more available
While 1943 may not win the wal
for either side, it will be a decisive
year in making our enemies fee
that their chances of even a stale
mate are rapidly being obliterated