Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-15
By FRANK BARTHOLOMEW
Nirr President ot the United Press

Nirf President 81 the United Press
NEW YORK. March Is II
YOU traNcl some 1000 miles
southwest OF San Francisco and
have hrSt-hard look a the
combat points along the 5000
mile battlefront OF the Pacific
war, YOU realize quickly what
the American and Australian
leaders mean when they say time
runs IN favor OF Japan.
The mon who have tried con-
illusions with the JapS al every
opportunity during the last year
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, Ad-
miral Chester r. Nimitz. Ad-
miral William F. HalSey Jr. and
Ii. Gen. DcloS EmmonS -- are
believed 10 be unanimous in the
hearteninG conclusion that the
japanese can be defeated in a
relatively short time after the
men. ships, planes and equip
ment required in Africa and
Europe can be diverted 10 the
Pacific.
The composite opinion of
these men seems TO be that the
war can be ended by the inva-
sion OF Toxic in the winter OF
1915 provided the European
Axis powers arc conquered next
year. which reporters believe to
be the earliest practicable date.
II the European war runs into
stalemate. the majority-but
not the neutrality-suspicious. OF
top American military leaders in
the Pacific is that il will take
between five and 10 years TO de-
feat Japan.
II the United Nations allow
that 10 happen, they Will have
10 win the war the hard way 1t
will be particularly hard if a
stalemate still exists In Europe
and the United States is forced
10 continue fighting on several
fronts. II would call for the
maximum of civilian sacrifices,
something that has not even
been approached.
WE HAVE had victories such
as Guadalcanal, Papua and the
Bismarck Sea. But if Nimitz'
fleet happened 10 lose just one
major engagement with the Jap
anese fleet, the whole picture in
the Pacific might be changed
radically in matter OF very
few minutes. a
Our strategiSts then would
have TO contemplate the posi-
bility of invasions OF Australia.
Hawaii. Washington. Oregon.
California and the Panama
Canal rather than proceeding
with their present plans for the
reduction Of Toxic.
We have been able to estab-
lish a physical line along the
vast Pacific battlefront and have
succeeded in hating enemy en-
croachments al least temporar-
lily, but the experts believe that
is offset by the fact that the
japanese, working behind that
line. have won time to exploit
the loot they captured in the
early days OF the war.
But after talking with top
officers and buck privates alike,
you conclude we have done one
important thing. Since Pearl
Harbor we have thoroughly de-
bunked the idea that the Jap is
a superman Macarthur and
Nimitz and Halscy have meas
ured the enemy and know be-
yond any question that they can
lick him.
THE NEW PICTURE OF the
Jap is that he IS a tough under
sized soldier OF a low mental
order who can always be made
10 give ground before a tougher,
larger and more intelligent OPP
ponent. \ L. s Marine, for
instance
What viii be tho pattern of
action once the planes men and
+ l
10 start punching? You are told
81 will include a gigantic aerial
assault on Japan itself with tho
idea OF knocking out Toxic
Yokohama and the heart Of fhc
island kingdom
This attack viii he based
chiefly on the Chinese mainland
With that land-baSed aerial 49,
Sault viii come an attack hN
The three powerful division al
the navy-Suriace submarine
and air. A simultaneous acria
attack from Alaska by way O.
the Aleutans also may be anic
ipated. Then VIII come the IN
NaSion.
a route into China will have
10 be opened and maintained 10
supply the great feet Of bomb
ors that Will be needed a
present. BritainS Field Marsha
Sir Archibald WaVell IS testln.
the tenacity Of the JaD's grip or
the southern end Of the Burma
road.
When he has found out VIVA
he wants 10 know. he viii b'
heavily reinforced with mon anI
supplies - including American
men and American supplies
for his great drive 10 build The
spring BOARD IN China that vii
catapult the Allies into japan