The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-03-16

ut seems like all the bad weather
is o@er pretty much nov. The sun
is out most all of the time and the
feel of the atmosphere Is little
more like California, although Id
much rather be in California.
There are so many people who
think they know how long the war
will last. The ones who sound like
they know the most are the farthest
away from the facts that they think
they know. Some think the islands
unimportant but the Japs' hopes OF
keeping New Guinea and gaining
Australia have become pretty much
shattered by the loss of the islands.
So many people have forgotten that
the Japs even considered Australia.
There are so many opinions that
some of them are bound to be fam
tastic. They can't all be right With
the loss of everyone of these Islands,
the Japs become weaker, which is
noticeable over here.
"Over here we occasionally hear
of Is Jap ships being sunk and have
reasons to know it's true Then we
hear over Tokyo's Zero Hour" that
Is American ships were sunk. Some
people. who are thousands of miles
from anything, actually think that
they are intelligently weighing out
the news from both sides That is
Jap strategy in losing battle, but
they are kept SO ignorant that they
can't make their stories convincing
to most people. It's amazing how
they tell the truth SO exact. but in
reverse.
I'VE know where some of the Jap
anese ships are, because they're al
ways in the same place (burned
and dragged in by our ships.) Any
common sense would tell them not
to come out now, if ever, with the
rest of their navy.
"Of course they're waiting for the
NOSE logical time to use their navy,
and some people think they have
something up their sleeve. We'd be
doing the same thing if we were
losing the war.
For instance, at the beginning OF
the war, everyone was saying
Where is the American Navy?
Where? The truth is coming out
A lot of the American Navy was
left in the bottom of the drink in
Pearl Harbor. Now the story is
Where is the Jap navy" More
than most people surmise, its the
same story reversed.
The islands are one Of Japan's
most powerful legs to stand on, anc
that leg is mighty weak now as
compared 70 what they thought i
would be by now. Right now, they
can't even get enough shipping
through to help their men in these
islands that are fast becoming OBJ
solete to them.
while the war may or may no
end within year. we can begin K
see our way out. Then you've got t.
realize that as soon as these island
are under control how is Japar
going to protect herself from al
sides and at the same time get iron
coal and oil and what not from
China? OF course parts of Chin
are In submission to the Japs, blu
uIily uIilll tilEy lESi tlldt LIE Jap
are getting pressure from some
where else.
4 While we. do all wish the wa
! would end tomorrow, the Japs d
have the biggest problem and tn
smallest possibilities.
i mot much more to write now.
Even though this isn't all bi
picnic, as some people try to max
it. sound, it's not too bad. | don
think there is any sensible reaso
that the war will last as long as
certain pessimistic group (wit
their shins behind desks in tn
States) say they know it's going t
last. At least all has looked yer
well for long time. All We'v
known for sometime is reports, bu
the reports are good and we knos
they're correct
Love,
Il Jesse