The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-04-21

IL Is curiosity OF the times tnat
those who insist upon emphasizing
the Importance OF the war upon ia
pan are criticized as dlversionists.
II is assumed that they want Japan
to be hit harder because they de-
sire TO have Hitler hit less hard
Actually, with many, the opposite
is true. They want Hitler hit hard
and Japan hit hard. They desire
that the war should be won on all
fronts.
But winning a war-the very
phrase. winning a warts often
'isunderstood. That phrase in
wolves not only the defeat OF the
enemy but the achievement of the
positive detectives OF victory. In
the Far Eastern war. those objec-
tiyes are, for Americans, clearer
than the European detectives. Even
far fasteners, like myself. who
have lived long in those countries
and had formed deep and prolong-
ed personal friendships with Japa-
nese, understand those detectives
without any doubts.
Stated succinctly. the primary
objective OF the Far Eastern war
Is TO teach Japan and all the world
that no nation may ever rise its
hand against the American peo-
pie, seize American territory, make
American citizens to suffer bodily
harm and indignity of person. II
Japan could produce thousand ar
guments proving justification. there
still could be no compromise with
this objective. Nor does II in
volve the principle of an eye for
an eye. II does involve the prin-
ciple of national honor and ma.
tional dignity.
And that seems TO be what so
many of those who wish the Far
Eastern war to be secondary do not
seem to understand, Every day
that passes without the establish
ment of this principle strength
ems Japan in her wicked course.
That is one reason why Chang
X i-Shek faces such difficulties to-
day among his own people. They
simply cannot understand why such
mighty nations as the United States
and Great Britain cannot do more
to avenge the insult of Pearl Har-
Dor, Shanghai. Hongkong and Sing
apore. The Japanese themselves
probably cannot understand IT.
am familiar with all the weak
nesses of Chang Kai-shek and the
70
was closely observant of those
weaknesses and | understand that
corruption, nepotlsm and a stiff.
neokedness almost imperial In tone
have increased during the past de-
cade. Many OF those who refused
to listen TO facts about those weak
nesses ten ~ears ago and called any
criticism OF the current Chinese
regime pro-Japanese propaganda
are today most violent in their dis
appointments which they express
with characteristic vehemence.
But that is not at this moment
our problem. We have to get even
with Japan. II the situation were
reversed, the Japanese would be
united in insisting upon getting
even with us. 1t would he as truc
of Japanese who like America
and there are many such-as OF
japanese who hate America. When
1t comes to getting even, they
would be united and we should be
united.
We are at the critical moment OF
the war. The next three or four
months will be decisive in Europe
and our minds will become concen.
trated on that theater because most
OF our children will be there. But
we dare not forget the Far Eastern
theater for a moment. And we dare
not forget China for a moment.
The news from China. both the
rigidly censored news in the news
papers and the reports and rumors
that filter through the censorship,
is most dlscouraging, not because
OF the movements OF troops and
the gains and losses OF towns. but
because there is ample evidence
that China is deeply depressed
spiritually and that the initiation
in that country is grinding the peo-
pie down to a starvation level in
all areas. This war is lasting too
long for them.
The struggle between Chang
Kaishek and the Communist
armies at such a moment is mos:
distressing, and again, feel thu.
we ought NOT and dare not sit in