The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-03

Editor Tall Tower Topics Regarding the Pacific
war; many people are now saying something like this;
When we lick Germany the will be practically over
then we can fly into Japan with everything we have
and we will wipe her off the Of the earth in about six
months" Maybe we will lick Japan in six months after
we tie into her with everything we have but highrank
officers of Army and Navy who know what the Soot
ing all about don't think The battle in the Pacific IS
still going on almost 5000 miles from Tokyo We have
vet to reach any main Japanese line Of resistance When
we do casualties will mount as they have mounted
since we first reached the edge OF Hters european
fortress in Italy 1t took us six months and -FOUR Gays
to drive the Japs off Of one island IN the Pacific
Guadalcana To take island in the Gilbert group cost
us more than 300 casualties in killed, wounded, ana
missing almost for every square yard OF ter
ritorv we captured Remember Attu? The Japs fought
to the death there than 1900 OF them We captured
only prisoners and our casualties were almost as large
more than 1900 in killed, wounded and missing IN
action - almost man for In the air japanese
strength Is the upgrade. The enemy not only mas
replaced the planes lost in combat but both numerically
and in quality Of planes the Jap air force Is improving
and their pilot training program has been stepped up 10
keep pace with their increased plane productlon Trans
poraton for the warfare in the Far East treend-
Gus problem. For example, to get 100000 long tons
monthly from San Francisco to Australia by boat calls
for A ships 5000 in the crews and 10000 barrels
of fuel Let's never forget that the Japs still have 2000
900 Of military age who have not yet been called 10 tne
coos because they have not been needed and they nave
nearly many in the 1920 age group who are not
yet subject to their draft If there Is any doubt IN your
mind as to whether the Japs fight and will hight 10
the bitter end to defend every loot OF te[ M Gey
ptals talk to wounded boys there who have met the
Japs in actual hand to hand combat They will tell you
that the Jap courageous, fanacal crooked treach-
erous and hard tough fighter ably led, happy TO ole
II by so doing he can take with him single American
don't know how long this war will last and don't
believe anyone else does What have tried TO DO IN TINS
presentation Of the Legion program OF America Alert
Is to give you the exact facts Of what we are facing IN
this war to end that will not let down on the home
front that we will not decide because OF glowing stores
we read of military victories that the war is over that
it longer necessary for on the home front to put
everything into the effort the OF America are
giving themselves the battleheds OF the world we
must never forget that not In newspaper
headlines We must forget that 1t Is far better
to overdo on the home front than to not do enough And
finally we must never forget that keep all produc
ton going at top speed until the orders come from the
battlefelds themselves for letup we will have con-
trbuted to shortening the and saving the lives OF
countless American fighting men, Axe Nielsen, COM
rnander Clifford r. French Post, No. 22 American
Legion, ThomaSton.