NO EASY ROAD TO VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 258, 30 July 1942, Page 4

NO EASY ROAD TO VICTORY

Pressmen’s Views On Pacific War JAPAN IS STRONG (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received July 29, 11.30 p.m.) LOURENCO MARQUES, July 28. The United Press of America representative, and Mr. Bellaire and Mr. Wilson, Far East -correspondents, compared notes and summed up their joint impressions and conclusions on the Pacific war. They point out the danger of under-estimating the Japanese. There is no easy road to victory, they declare. Japan is strong and well prepared, for she is grinding millions of people under the maximum of hardships to exert the greatest possible strength against us. Victory requires our willingness to match the Japanese effort in determination and sacrifice. The Japanese are ingenious and not merely imitators, and are' aided by capable technicians. They are ready to fight for years if necessary. Japanese machines are well equipped and their soldiers are tough, savage and well-train'sd. For instance, in. Hong Kong Japanese soldiers in rubber shoes sneaked through the sewers; They are well co-ordinated with artillery and air attack. Not So Good in Crisis. The Japanese prefer routine precision and are not so good when something goes wrong; such as the bombing of Tokio. The city’s defences were thrown into such confusion that the anti-aircraft guns were unable to operate or fired bn their Own planes. This confusion is reflected in contradictory and excitable statements and claims. Japanese equipment, specially that used in China, is often obsolete, but usually sufficient for the purpose. .This does not mean that the enemy does not possess new and modern equipment. The Zero navy plane is copied on the best Western models and Japanese mechanical ingenuity has added important features; Communications have proved a serious weakness for the Japanese. These will become an increasingly grave problem as American air and naval strength increases in the Pacific.