PACIFIC WAR SPREADS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 196, 22 December 1941, Page 4

PACIFIC WAR SPREADS

UNDERESTIMATION of the might of the Japanese military machine appears to. be the main feature of the past week's progress of the war in the Pacific. To-day we ha.ve the unpleasant picture of Hongkong closely invested, of the invasion of Burma (on a minor scale it is true) of the investment of Penang, and of the growing threat to Singapore. The Japanese ha,ve so deployed their naval forces that the Pacific Islands are still feeling the weight of their presence as well as the Phillipines. The. near approach to the northern extremity of Australia has also caused grave concern in that country, though we have read with a certain degree of surprise and disgust the behaviour of a certain section of the 'idle rich' from the towns en the East Coast. The plans of the Nipponese war chiefs are beingwell carried out., and their depth and construction may be guaged by the manner in which all services have co-oper-ated in their achievement. The main burden of the Pacific war must be borne by Americaa, and, to-day we; find ourselves at that difficult stage which precedes the mobilisation and gathering together of the armies and air strength of every major power. We are still in a state of flux, brought about by the elements of treachery and surprise. The duration of this period depends entirely upon the time necessary for the American programme to be fully launched". No. doubt, that time will come. No doubt again, no time will be spared in hastening its coming. But in. the meantime the attacking army and navy is having more or less every thing its own way in the Pacific, and we have to be grateful to the underwater craft of the Royal Netherlands Navy for most of the damage done to the enemy to date. The 'long bitter war' prophesied by President Roosevelt is due entirely to the flying start that Japan has in the new theatre, and the damage and captures which she can effect now will extend and expand the conflict with every corresponding action. Murmerings in England have endorsed those raiser 1 . in Australia regarding the state of unpreparedness in the East. The impregnable fortresses of which the British public had heard so much are even now falling before the Japanese onslaught. There can be no doubt but that the striking force of Japan was disastrously underestimated, though it must be admitted that it is an astounding accomplishment by a country which had been steadily wasting its manpower and its substance in the five-year China incident. Whatever the outcome the slogan to-day is for firmness and determination on the part of all peoples whose shores are threatened until the welcome arrival of the news of the American counter-blow which is building up day'by day.