JAPAN'S FOLLY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 5

JAPAN'S FOLLY

ULTIMATE FAILURE

Will Not Stay Course Long," Says Smuts

CAIRO, May 20. i™£" Pan .™ in , not stay tne course for Prime Minister of South Africa, Field-Marshal Smuts when interviewed by G. E. W Harriott, war correspondent' for the Sydney Morning Herald, after he had toured Middle East battle stations Field-Marshal Smuts declared that Japan s declaration of war on the British Empire and the United States had been the greatest act of national folly committed in recent times. "But she has done it," he said "and by doing it has gravely overreached herself. I think it is the oddest thing in history," said FieldMarshal Smuts, "that a nation like Japan, which has as neighbours Russia, a potential enemy with whom she. has already fought one of the great wars of history, and China which has resisted her successfully for five years, should take it on herself to declare war on the British Empire and the United States.

An Upstart Power

"Japan is an upstart Power, and she has had nothing but success to date. The military class in control, drunk with power, has taken a step which must have awful consequences for Japan.

"Their success has been spectacular, but it will be short-lived. The British have suffered serious losses, Dutch possessions have gone, and America got a bloody nose at Pearl Harbour, but these victories were scored against opponents woefully unprepared.

"From a purely military viewpoint the Japanese have done their work uncommonly well. Their strategyhas been good, their fighting is good, and their men are well trained. They are most redoubtable enemies, but they have undertaken a Job which is beyond their powers. Japan certainly constitutes a frightful nuisance and a frightful dilemma, but she is doomed to ultimate failure."