Evening star., 1943-06-06
Attu Battle COnvinces British
OF Seriousness Of Jap Menace
Campaign Opened at Opportune Time While
Conference on Global Strategy Was Working
Out Plans for War
Bv Constantine BrOwn.


by a large fleet and strong air force
are likely to fail, too.
But the old saying that where there is
will there is way also apparently was
never taken into consideration by Wa
veil. American officers who have in
spected that area in the last few months
say that with determination the natural
obstacles facing an invading army could
be overcome American technical men
who had visited the most difficult por
tions of the so-called ''impassable jun
gle told the British field marshal that
they could have overcome the compli-
Gated communication and supply ques-
tion had they been put in charge.
Must Wait Monsoon End.
According to their estimates, even if
an amphibious operation were not feast
BILE, it would have been possible to over
come the obstacles of terrain had Wavell
decided to throw large force against
the Japanese, who are only half-heart-
edly supported by Thai troops and whole
! heartedly by Burmese guerrillas.
1t is assumed that the other younger
British military experts who attended
the Washington discussions became con-
vinced that younger and less fatigued
man than Wavell might have attempted
the job.
In the meantime. however. the cam
paign must wait until the monsoon sea-
son is over. And the question of whether
the Chinese will be able to hold out until
next October, when offensive operations
in that area can be resumed, becomes
increasingly important.
China's special Ambassador to WASH
jnsVon. T. V. Soong, has not been pulling
his punches recently and his warnings
that China might be forced out of the
war before the end of the year have not
been taken as bluff and empty threats.
In fact, ever since they became officially
our associates, the Chinese have been
guilty only of optimism. In their abso-
lutte confidence that the United States
and Britain could not be so blind as to
overlook the mortal danger of powerful
Japan, the Chinese have sent out reports
which were more optimistic than the sit
uation actually warranted.
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek sought
to minimize the importance of the de-
sertion of so many of his generals who
went over to the enemy bag and baggage
His pride apparently induced him to
suppress or discount the importance of
these desertions. He wanted immediate
assistance after the pledges given him
at the Casablanca meeting.
Chiang's views acted as a morale
booster for many of his doubtful follow
ers. The arrival of large American
transport planes-in fact, the amount of
supplies they are able to carry is a mere
drop in the ocean when we consider the
needs of the Chinese armies-also acted
as stimulant. At least it showed our
good will toward hard-pressed China.
But the fasco of the campaign against
the japanese in Burma coupled with a
renewed and powerful offensive of the
Jars against Chungking, has brought the
situation to a head. We are now being
bluntly told that unless something deci-
sive occurs China may be completely in
the hands of the japanese before the
end of The year
DR.. Soong is said to believe that
Chiang's forces may be able to hold on
until the end of the monsoon rains and
that If the Allies keep their pledge to
start an offensive in Burma when the
dry season begins, Chang may stay in
the war
This point of view is not completely
shared by some of our strategists. There
is every indication that the Japanese
have taken into China new aviation
force and other men equipped with
modern war material They are no long
er content to buy some of Chiang's
generals Neither are they satisfied with
nuisance bombings and local raids Ac-
cording to information reaching WASH
ington from China, the Japanese appear
determined to end China's resistance be-
fore the Allies have an opportunity
to make serious drive against Burma
next fall. And on the basis of what we
know of China's war material and
modern fighting equipment, some mill
tary men express serious doubts whether
Chang will be able to resist deter
mined Japanese drive this summer.
OF course, Chang will not agree to
Dor