THE PACIFIC STORM HAS BROKEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 191, 10 December 1941, Page 4

THE PACIFIC STORM HAS BROKEN

LIKE 11 bolt out of the blue came the Japanese attack upon the American possessions in the Pa.cific. The new week had scarcely begun when the incredible news of the bombing of Pearl Harbour, Hawaii and attack on Manila in the Phillipines had the civilised world by the ears. Hitler's tactics have been closely followed by the world's most accompished copyists. No declaration of war was necessary, only the usual newspaper war and the. stirring up of public feeling—and then, while the envoys of peace were in conversation, Japan struck. Naturally the element of surprise has given the aggressors the initial advantage. The savagely of the attack on Honolulu has resulted in 3000 casualties, fifty per cent of them fatal. The attacking forces of Nippon have spread fan-wise across the Pacific and China Seas. To-day finds them after a five and half hour battle in control of Thailand, in possession of Wake and Midway Islands, closellv investing Guam, bombing Singapore, Hongkong, Malay and Manila and waging a major naval battle with the American and British fleets. The outcome of the carefully prepared plan will spell the destiny of the Japanese. Empire, which in the face of the gathering storm of indignation d,oes not appear hopeful. The new world has been forced into the conflict despite; isolationists and racial problems. America, north and south is rallying to avenge the destardly attack, while the British armed forces in the Far East can be depended upon to keep the situation in hand. The passage through Thailand by Japanese troops presents unfortunately the worst problem to date, for the vital Burma Road, by which route arms,, goods and foodstuffs have been flowing freely to the forces of Chiang Kai Chek, the gallant Chinese patriot, is in danger of being cut. However the Japanese forces on the coast are more than likely to have their greatest task in facing up to the gathering naval strength of the united American and British fleets. Looking at the situation as it is presented, to-day by the multiple Japanese attack, the most remarkable feature appears to be that the actual declaration of w 7 ar did not come from the Government but from the Military High Command a significant indication of just how powerful are the army heads in dictating the policy of the country. War lias come to the Pacific, the northern shores of which are at this moment re-echoing to the gunfire and bombing of belligerent armies and navies. With Australia s declaration of war, our own must follow as soon as Parliament meets. New Zealand is now definitely in the danger zone and the realities of war are likely to become ominously more apparent as day succeeds day.