Detroit evening times., 1945-01-19
BEHIND
THE NEWS
By Paul
MaIIon

y
had not placed mines in suf-
ficient quantities for adequate
defense.
Macarthur plainly feinted
them out of strong positional
defense there before he went in.
Our preliminary movement into
the islands south of Luzon nat
urally led them TO expect power
landings at nearby points on
the south coast rather than
from the northeast, the direc-
tion of japanese strongholds, at
Singapore, in Burma, China.
Perhaps they also figured
Macarthur would not use an
avenue which they themselves
had chosen, even though it af-
fords the best way through the
widest possible plains into
Manila. AT any rate they were
1ooled, completely.
The grand overall strategy of
the invasion was just as mas
terful. The navy practically
seized the seas, devastating
much of the shipping upon
which the Jap forces on Luzon
must rely for supplies and rein
fOrnar1oanfc
OF COURSE, we do not hear
" about the Jap ships which
got through, and there must
have been some, but the total
sinkings reported officially by
the navy are sufficient 10 boil
ster MacArthur's warning TO
the Japs in front of him that
they were cut off and would
have to fight with what they
have.
Macarthur at once forecast
his big battle would come on
the plains in front of Manila
and this may mean at any point
up to the city. The Japs may
have been holding some power
back for this last stand, but
there is reason 10 doubt it,
Indeed the facts suggest Mac
Arthur cut off part of their
force on the northward side of
his lines. The strongest opposi-
tion he met in the first week
was from the north and north
east of the Lingayen area, not
from the direction of Manila.
Also we got far enough in
land in the initial operations to
seize numerous areas suitable
for plane landing fields. Thus
our airpower is sure to increase,
while the air strength Of the
Japs is certain 10 diminish.
They have been trying to
sneak some aircraft in from
Formosa by air, but the FormoSa
fields Gas our communiques
daily have reported have taken
continuous terrific assaults. In
this connection also, the Ameri-
can strategy appears TO have
been well conceived in advance.
IN WAR, strategy saves lives,
Il The fight you do not have 10
make because you have out
maneuvered your foe is the
greatest possible victory. 1t
may not get the headlines Of
the hard fought battles. but it
gets you where you want TO go.
The overall strategic outlook
in Europe has greatly improved
also the past few days. The
opening of the Russian drive
will stretch Hitler's weakened
lines tighter and offer the OPP
portunity for a break through
at any point. If our punching
power on all fronts can be
maintained at a maximum pres
sure, some place will have to
give.
ESTIMATES have been pub
II lished that the Reds have
100000 in their drive. and
they probably have, if the fuff
extent Of the front is considered
from East Prussia down to
CZechoSlovakia. But much OF
our news about the size of this
winter effort has been coming
from the Germans.
The Russians have held back
generally on news there as else
where. except for one impor-
tant. suggestive break. II was
Stain himself who announced
the portion of the drive south of
Warsaw.
Just as Lingayen affords the
best route into Manila. so does
this Polish area furnish the best
way into Berlin.
When Stain thus publicly
points the way. / assume he has
plenty of power ready behind
his finger. He did not mention
the East PruSsian action, or
that north OF Warsaw in his in
itial announcement.
. The scope of the drive will
be shown in the last analysis
only by developments. The
reading of signs before they
become conclusive seldom con-
tribute 10 sound military un-
derStandings. as signs are
erected for the purpose of de-
ception.
One thing is certain. Around
here earlier there was notice.
able apprehension IN some quar-
ters that the Russians might