Evening star., 1943-05-28
New Blows at Nazis
And Japs Seen as
Strategy Talks End
Roosevelt Announces
Complete Agreement
On Future Plans
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Conclusion of the strategy con-
ference between President Roose-
welt and Prime Minister Winston
Churchill was viewed here today as
marking the beginning of a new
phase of this global war-a phase
in which the United Nations are
destined to undertake full-scale Of
fensives in both Europe and the
Pacific.
The end of the historic meeting
was announced by President Roose-
velt late yesterday. He said simply
that complete agreement" had been
reached on future plans. What
those plans are will become known
only as they unfold in action.
The very wording of the Presi-
dents statement suggested that
when the conference began there
were questions of vast strategical
Importance which required answer
ing to the satisfaction of both Brit
ish and American leaders. The fact
that, as Mr.. Roosevelt indicates, they
have now been answered leaves no
doubt that decisions of supreme i'm
portance have been made.
Presidents Statement.
The Presidents statement said
only this:
The conference of the combined
staffs in Washington has ended in
complete agreement on future oper-
ations in all theaters of the war"
That the war against Japan re-
ceived the fullest consideration was
made clear by Mr.. Churchill in his
address to Congress. Yet it was
equally clear that there had been no
change in the grand strategy previ-
ously agreed on to smash Germany
first and Japan second.
The war in Europe is expected to
be won by some time next year at
the latest, but the conflict in the
Pacific may run on until 1945 or
1916, according to reliable estimates.
The forces available for use
against Japan's flank have been
greatly increased Mr.. Roosevelt
revealed at a recent press confer
ence that the bulk of American
strength already was in the Pacific.
When those forces grow sufficiently
strong and the time is right, there
probably will be an American thrust
which will so directly threaten Jap
anese vital interests that the jap
anese fleet will be compelled to
fight.
Destruction of that fleet is gen.
orally considered to be the primary
objective of the American naval
high command, Occupation of new
island bases, now that the supply
lines to the Southwest Pacific have
been secured. is secondary to that
purpose But japanese strategy
has become so defensive within the
last six months that they no longer
appear willing to fight for posi-
tion which they do not need vitality.
Their failure to make a counter
attack by sea on United States forces
at Attu Island-which stands in di-
rect contrast to the long struggle
they put up for Guadalcanal-not
only doomed their garrison there,
but also at their main Aleutians base
on kiSka.
Burma Road No. l Task.
The weakest spot in the Allied ring
around China at present, observers
here agree, is on the continent of
Asia. China, which could be made
a formidable offensive base, is iso-
lated from British and American
arsenals except by air transports
from India. Reopening of the Bur-
mad road remains the No. l task of
the Allied forces in India in order
that bulk supplies may be moved
into China rapidly.
The presence of Field Marshal Sir
Archibald Wavell, the Allied chief in
India, and his top sea an dair Of
ficers in Washington for the Roose-
velt-Churchill talks gave consider
able weight to speculation that a
drive to break the japanese hold on
Burma is primary objective of the
high command.
Because of the monsoons which
flood Burma's valleys in the sum-
mer, the job cannot be fully done
before next fall or winter, but plan
ming at this time would be necessary
to assure its accomplishment then.
Participation of Russia in the war
against Japan would quickly solve
the problem of bases from which
to bomb the main japanese islands,
but this may not be possible at
least until the war in F,lIroDe is won
Mr.. Churchill was at considerable
pains to explain to a press confer
ence Tuesday the enormous effort
Russia had expended and would
continue to spend in fighting Ger
many. He left the impression that
nothing more could or should be
asked of her now.
NJ Nnthnnson Dies