Imperial Valley press., 1945-08-09
RUSSIA THROWS IN WITH
ALLIES AGAINST JAPAN

the war on Japan shorten the time until
victory?
That will depend upon how hard
Stain strikes into Manchuria; whether
he moves on Korea and whether he de-
ploys his long idle fleet at Vladivostok, or
whether he recOnSiders and acts as truce
mediator for Hirohito.
The Russ declaration Of war has re-
vealed that Japan had asked Stain to
be spokesman for an armistce. This
came as no surprise as there had been
much undisputed proof of that move
from Tokyo.
How much pressure was brought to
bear on Stain at the Potsdam parley, or
how much he was influenced by the sue
cess of the first autOmic bomb to fall
Upon Japan has not been disclosed and
probably will not become part Of the rec
CrdS.
No matter how much or how little the
declaration will hasten victory, the fact
remains that Moscow is many months
late IN deciding to Join the fray. A week
aE0 the most conservative observers gave
Japan only 60 days to surrender. In the
ASt few days the most peSsimiStic have
reduced that to 30 days, and the change
is due 10 the certain destructiveness Of
the automic bombs which the United
States is ready to hurl in unlimited num-
/ .rs on the rapidly disintegrating home
land.
The best authorities profess to believe
that Stain knew little about the develop
ment Of this master of destruction But
he is not one to fail to recognize that
agency as fixing the final fate Of Japan
and his war move largely may have been
determined on that alone.
Six months ago the announcement that
flashed around the world Wednesday
would have fired enthusiasm and been
acclaimed in no uncertain manner. But
now that Japan is licked and it is mat
ter of only weeks until she must sur
render, the news was received with vary
ing sentiment. Naturally the reaction
in official circles prompts statements of
satisfaction. But unofficially there is
the unmistakabe feeling that Russia has
come in ION the kill A senator high in
the confidence of the administration
probably expresses the sentiment of
many Of his colleagues when he said:
'N0 one can oppose Russia's taking that
course, but all the world knows, includ-
ing Japan. that we already have defeat
"a her. 1t is my opinion that Japan
could not possibly last 80 days either
with or without Russia in the war"
That the strategy will not be altered
seems apparent. The United States will
90 ahead with the demolishment of the
Jap homeland and with that accom-
rlished, surrender must follow. There
has been some who believed we would
have to move into China before defeat
could be sure, but there has been no def
mite sign Of that being a part Of the
strategy.
Much the Russ surface and submarine
fleet at Vladivostok could have done to
render Japan helpless already has been
done and forgotten about We have
swept her fleet from the sea; we have
hlockaded the home islands with mines
laid down by B-29s. We have made pos
sible the use of any number Of island
bases for attack and invasion-all at
tremendous cost in lives. In all this
Russia could have been a great help.
The most obvious point at which Rus
Sl;t can strike deadly blow is where
ltussia's own great interests lie-Man-
churia. Now, with Japan using all her
power to defend the home islands, and
with the end so near, Russia we'll may
be able to seize Manchuria with little
cost in lives and with minimum of de-
Struction to that territory which Russia