Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-18
Adm. Woodward Says;
|B-29's Seal
laps Doom
Lille Fight Seen
for Philippines
Nv REAR ADM. CLARK II.
WOODWARD

WASHINGTON, June j tTNS'
The surprise bombing attack on
Japan proper. and the invasion OF
Saipan in the Mariana Island
group provided electrifying news
for the American people.
Striking at the heart OF the
japanese mainland a force OF
B-2s Superfortresses made the
first attack on the mainland OF
our Pacific enemy since the Doc
little raid on April is, 1912.
In view of recent assaults on
the Kuriles and nearby Marcus
Island the resulting confusion and
alarm in Japan probably were
greater than or. the earlier RAID
JAP CHIEFS WORRIED
The invasion Of Saipan-one OF
the most important islands OF the
Marianas, less than 1900 miles
from Tokyo and about the same
distance from the Philippines
highly significant.
The fact that Americans can
hit SO close TO the homeland with
out provoking resistance from the
japanese nay must be Of extreme
concern TO the Tokyo war lords.
The Marianas are 10 Japan
what the Hawaiian Islands are 20
the United States. They protect
the enemys lines OF communica-
ton between Japan and outposts
10 the southwark and eastward.
Moreover. in American hands
they would make very valuable
stepping stones on the way 10
Japan and prevent the japanese
from outfianking any movement
10 the southwark. such as Adm.
Nimitz' operations on the way to
the China coast or Gen. Mac
Arthur's operations in the New
Guinea area on his march 10 the
Philippines.
Jap FLEET VERY WARY
Some observers believe the Jap
anese feet will elect 10 come out
10 fight when we approach the
Philippines. where IL can be sup
ported by land-based aircraft.
The Japs have recently an
nounced, however-in Tokyo
weekly commentary called World
War Situation they will
not risk their feet in any decoy
game devised by the American
Pacific feet.
Halmahera, which lies off the
western tip OF New Guinea and
only $40 miles southeast OF Min
danao, in the southern Philip
pines. is the logical target for the
next invasion. That the japanese
are greatly perturbed over the
present situation is indicated by
the stiff resistance they are MAX
ing to hold Biak Island.
BLOCK RAW MATERIALS
The Allied mission is TO cut off
Tojo's war machine from all
stolen raw materials 10 The south,
ESPECIALLY liC NlAcl VII cNPply llNA-
essary TO continue the war. Any
failure on the part of the Japa-
nese 10 exert their supreme effort
to stop the Allies spells utter de-
feat.
Yet the enemy showed his
weakness in each instance and in
feriority in naval and air strength
by his apparent lack of effort 10
forestall our action.
The only possible implication of
the japanese failure 10 contest
Allied acquisition of western New
Guinea is that they have accepted
It's loss as inevitable. That, in
turn can mean only that they
have accepted as equally newt
able an American landing in the
Philippines,
fNOTE-The opinions expressed and
the assertions made herein sre my own
ard are not 90 b. construed ~ ofheinl
or YeheetinE IN any way the views az
the navy department or the naval serV-
Ice ~ large
CopyriEht- 1874 International News Service
-see What YoU Mad. NJ AIR show