The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-13
Interpreting
The War
BY ELTON C. FAY

ny GA4O1N W RAJ
Associated Press War Analyst
Is the Pacific war on or ahead
of schedule?
The question is suggested by
several recent developments, the
latest Of which is an announce
| 7nent that Netherlands East In
dies government administration is
expected to be set up and ready
to move into territory now &C.
cupied by the japanese by next
June.
The fact that the Netherlands,
memer of the United Nations, is
prepared for such action within a
few months is significant, but it
does not follow that the Dutch
nor any of the Allies necessary ex-
pect the East Indies to be clear d.
ed of the enemy by that time. But
it would appear to mean that for
some reason they believe they
should be prepared for such pos =
sibility by early summer.
Admiral Ni1nitz, the commander
in-chief OF the Pacific fleet. in
Washington for a visit last week,
was asked whether, in view OF the
rapid developments in the Pacific
theater during the last eight
months, he thought the war there
was ahead of schedule.
The silver-haired, modern day
Lord Nelson unused over the ques-
ten before he replied: II don't
think so; I think that's what we
had in our minds all the time"
During the week there came to
light another facet on the progress
Of the Pacific war. 1t was contain
ed in testimony before a House
committee relating to so-called
deficiency appropriations bill "a
measure which provides funds not
set up in regular appropriations
bills for the current fiscal year
ending next June 30.) Testifying
i'll connection with that measure,
Read Admiral E. L. Cochrane,
chief of the bureau Of ships, COM
:cented that the Navy intends to
go into the japanese island OF
Truk and seize that big naval
base that once was deep in the en-
erny's ocean defensive system.
The swift westward surge OF
American power through the Gill
berts and Marshalls, synchroaiz-
CO with the northward thrust OF
General MacArthur's forces from
New Guinea, has suggested that
the broad strategy now may be to
cut a swath through the japanese
sphere of conquest clear to the
China coast, and, as one result,
leave the enemy to wither on the
vine in the islands to the south.
The announcement concerning
the preparations of the Netherlands
i East Indies government raises a
:, iouestion as ID whether the wither-
!. |ilg-on- the-vine procedure may not
t he fastened by direct military &C.
lion against the islands.
r Where the action might make
i its first appearance is a matter OF
e conjecture. The greater part OF the
i Indies, indeed all of them except
Il perhaps such westernmost islands
S as Sumatra to the south OF the old
British base of Singapore. nominal
d " come within the theater COM
D handed by General Macarthur.
e His airmen have paid bombing
visits to some of the former Dutch
=, holdings in the Indies, including
= the island of Timor and the city
Ct Surabaya on the north coast OF
:, Java.
The japanese, presumably with
, reasons of their own, are suggest
- ing possible targets for Allied at
tack, the latest mention by the
, Tokyo radio being Java.
: That island, within fleet oper-
- alton range Of Australia, would be
y of value. On it are two things Wit
= ally needed for waging war IN
u the Indies the excellent naval base
!, at Surabaya and oil wells. u