Evening star., 1944-10-27
FivefoId Result Seen /
In U. S. Navy Victory
War Against Japan Shortened
Considerably, Says Writer
BY Dapid Laurence.

Considerably, Says Writer
BY David Laurence.
Results of the great naval victory we
have won in the Pacific may be sum-
married as follows:
First, the way has been opened to
land American forces on the east coast
of China whenever it is decided to set :
up bases for Army planes there.
Second, the entire Netherlands East
Indies area has been cut OF from naval
protection by Japan, which means the
| ultimate loss to Japan of rubber, oil, and
other natural resources essential to her
war production.
| Third, the entire Pacific Ocean ex-
cept the Sea of Japan is now In con-
troll Of our feet and the economic block
ade of Japan can be intensively begun.
Fourth. American submarines will
have bases nearer than ever before to
the Sea of Japan and will prey on Japa-
nese shipping and create new supply
problems for the Japanese armies in
China and Burma.
Fifth, the way Is opened for q di-
rect attack by sea on the main islands
OF Japan and her principal munitions
centers which are close to the seaboard.
This does not mean that all this will
be accomplished in a few weeks or
months but it does mean that the war
| against Japan has been shortened con-
siderably
1t means, too, that as soon as Army
ha sat d., 4.
| pines our bombers will begin to ravage
| shipping in the China Sea and harass
Japanese communications with China
and Burma.
Long Job in Philippines.
Occupation of the Philippines will
take a long time. The mopping-up
| process will absorb men and materials
and will not be easy. Heavy japanese
| garrisons are located in many parts of
the Philippine area.
The Japanese took a desperate GAM
BILE and lost. They thought to wipe out
our naval forces which were protecting
the landings in Leyte. They figured
on moving through the narrow passages
into the waters east of the Philip
pines and attacking Admiral Halsey's
3rd Fleet from the south, while other
big Japanese naval units came down
from Formosa and the north.
But the American Navy was equal to
the task. Not only did Admiral Halseys
fleet defeat the units from the north
but also those in the south, which had
emerged from the San Bernardino
Strait, while Admiral Kinkaids ships
actually annihilated third segment Of
the Japanese feet in the waters west
of the island of Leyte.
1t was a striking example of co-ordi-
nation OF air, sea and underwater
weapons. Our submarines spotted the
Jap feet in the China Sea and also
laid in wait for the crippled japanese
units as they tried to escape back in
the direction from which they came
Our airplanes fought all over the place
and some of them never did get back
to their carriers.
But our losses were comparatively
light all around considering the size OF
the forces involved. 1t is believed that
some Of the crews from our planes
came down in areas where friendly ma
tives will help them.
AS for surface ships, while we SUI
fered some damage, 1t is reported that
our casualties were surprisingly small
Most of the injury came from Japanese
land-based craft, and it would have been
much worse for us had not Admiral
Hslsey's aircraft carriers conducted q
pretty thorough job of bombardment
of Japanese airfields in Luzon in the
several days before the Macarthur
landings took place. and had not the
Army Air Forces helped to cripple Jap
airfields in Formosa.
Principal Engagement.
The principal engagement, of course,
was in the area where the big Halsey
task force was operating east Of tbs
Philippines, though the smaller force
under Admiral Kinkaid which had
covered the landings of MacArthurs
men in and around Leyte did superb
job in night action of surface ships,
the full details Of which have not yet
been disclosed, If indeed they have
been received.
The work of our naval airplanes was
spectacular, but it must not be forgot
ten that in this battle we used sub
marines in larger numbers than ever
before as part of the combat opera
tions and the submarines gave a mag
nincent account of themselves.
Every arm of the United States Navy
had part in the glorious battle which
preserved for MacArthur's men the
ground they gained by their brilliant
work at Leyte. And when the whole
story is told, the American people and
especially the workers who made the
ships, guns and planes can feel proud
Of the use that has just been made
Of the tools and weapons the Navy had
at its disposal.
The Battle Of the Philippines will
probably be long remembered as the
greatest naval engagement in modern
history. The Japanese Navy was de-
cisively beaten and the United States
Navy controls every vital area in the
biggest ocean in the world with the
single exception of the Sea of Japan
close by enemy shores.
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