The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-08-15
Hard War Wrests Stolen Empire From Japan

manded by Dutch Vice Admiral c.
Z. L. Helfrich In the Java Sea. In
the engagement. Feb. 27-2s, the Al
lies lost 10 American. British, Aus
tralian and Dutch warships before
they could withdraw under punish
ing air and submarine attacks.
The japanese landed on Java
March and sir days later had
occupied Batavia. the capital, and
Bandoeng, mountain stronghold.
The British defended Sumatra and
its rich oil wells until March 10,
and Dutch guerrillas continued to
hold out In some OF the islands for
months, but the campaign was vir-
tually over.
Prestige shmps
The white mans prestige In the
Orient slumped to a new low in
Burma, which the Japanese invad-
ed along almost impossible noun
tain trails from Thialand even be-
fore they finished the capture Of
Singapore.
The enemy captured Moulmein,
crossed the Sittang, and captured
Rangoon, capital and chief port.
on March s-again striking from
the backdoor. Harrassed by unruly
Burmese in their retreat up the
IrraEaddy, the hard way out OF
Burma, the British surrendered
Mandalay, heart OF the Kipling
country, on May 2. To many. the
old British Empire appeared to be
coming apart at the seams.
The Japanese, who at last had got
the better Of the heroic Avg. pushed
on through Lashio. terminal Of the
Burma Road to China, and reach
ed the Salween Gorge In Yunnan.
China's southwestern province.
China, fighting since July 7, 1887,
seemed open to a knockout.
Back to india
On May rs, Gen. Joseph w. Still
well and his little band OF Ameri-
cans and Chinese struggled through
the rugged mountains back into
India. He summed up the whole
sorry story Of unpreparedness:
II claim we got a hell OF a
beating. We got run out Of Burma
and It is humilating as hell"
The British had neglected to
build the roads that would have
made a defense in northern Bur
ma possible. They had attempted
to stay the japanese advance with
obsolete planes. insufficient REIN
forcements had arrived in SinEa-
pore Just in time to be captured.
The Dutch had planned a defense
with planes and guns that never
arrived from America.
Empire Won ----
The Japanese had won an empire
OF oil, tin, rubber at trifling cost.
With bated breath the world
waited for the battle for Australia.
On March IT, Macarthur arrived In
Australia by plane after slipping
out Of Corregidor on bouncing PIT
boat that eluded Japanese over
hundreds OF South Sea miles.
IL came through and will re-
turn" he declared, as he assumed
command In southeast Asia
But the English-speaking democ-
racy in the little continent in the
Antipodes was in desperate plight.
The Japanese had seized the Admir-
atty isles and all the important
bases In northern New Guinea.
They were solidly settled at Rabaul
in New Britain and were infiltrat-
ing into the Solomons. Australia
was in danger OF having Its supply
line to America cut.
Washington and London were
preoccupied with the German peril
to Moscow and Suez.
But slowly MacArthur's Ameri-
can-Australian-D utch-New Zealand
forces gathered strength. Refugees
from hundreds OF shipwrecks. the
bombed escape ports OF the Indies.
the scattered guerrilla battles OF
the Philippines filtered In. Austral-
ian veterans of Africa returned. U.
s. troops enroute to Manila when
the war broke out were diverted to
Australia, and more arrived. Mill
tia drilled.
He had not long 10 prepare before
the Japanese launched a fullscale
effort down the Solomon Sea corri-
dor through the Louisiades.
Great Sea Battle
The battle OF the Coral Sea. May
as, was the first great modern sea
battle fought without surface ships
coming within gunrange Of one an
other. In It the flattop, the giant
airplane carrier. proved that hence
forth II was the queen OF sea pow
er.
For four days the flaming battle
spread over 100000 square miles
OF Tropic seas and coral reefs, with
the two fleets standing 80 to 100
miles apart. Two American car
riers were pitted against three OF
the Japanese. And when the
smoke OF battle cleared Is Japa-
nese ships. including at least one
carrier and perhaps a second, had
gone down. At least 20 more, In.
GLIDING another carrier, were dam
aged. The. American losses were
the gallant carrier Lexington, a de-
stroyer and q tanker.
At least 80 other japanese ships
were sunk or damaged In previous
air strikes on shipping concentra-
lions at Tulagi. Salamaua and Lac
on March 10 and May 4.
Tide Turns
AZ AA.tant1. ~ tho
turning OF the tide. but 1t did not
halt the japanese entirely.
The little brown warriors were
yet to make their landings at Buna
in New Guinea on July % and be-
gan their audacious thrust over
the top OF the towering owen
Stanley range toward Port Mores-
by. They were yet to make their
abortive attempt at Milne Bay on
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