BEATING JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 104, 27 January 1943, Page 5

BEATING JAPAN

Island-Hopping Seen As Too Slow ATTACK THROUGH CHINA URGED (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received January 26, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 26. “The Papuan campaign lias demonstrated clearly that an islandhopping offensive is the costliest, slowest and least effective way of getting at the Japanese,” declares the Sydney “Telegraph” editorially today. “We have not yet begun to win the Pacific war and will not do so till we combine against the Japanese powerful forces based on China and the Aleutian Islands and considerably better equipped and larger land, air and sea forces based on Australia.” Three factors combined to prolong the Allied Papuan offensive into a four months' campaign, says the “Telegraph.” The first was the blind, fanatical tenacity of the Japanese who held on to strongpoints long after resistance was demonstrated to be futile. The second was the wastage of soldiers through tropical disease, which caused more damage than the enemy, and the third factor delaying tlie Allied success was hick of naval forces—warships and transports. Menace Of Disease. The menace of disease is the most serious factor to contend with in an island-hopping offensive against Japan, adds the paper. For every man put out of action by a Japanese bullet two would fall out with jungle ailments, and these losses would be continuing right up to Formosa. The limited value of the islandhopping offensive against the Japanese has also been stressed by the British Labour peer and naval expert, Lord Strabolgi, writing in “Reynold’s News.” Lord Strabolgi sees a direct attack on Japan through China as the only practical way of finishing off the Japanese. “Thisis the strategy the Allies are bound to adopt sooner or later,” he says. “Protracted fighting both in the Solomons and New Guinea should wiirn us against the oft-proclaimed intention of reconquering the many groups of Japanese-held islands between Australia and the China Sea. It would be too bloody a business altogether." Invasion Of Mumia. Next?

Meanwhile, from Washington suggestions that American forces are likely soon to invade Munda, in New Georgia. Possession of this area would give Hie Americans complete aerial superiority, ensuring domination of the Solomons and contributing largely toward Hie complete security of New Zealand and north-eastern Australia. The New York “Herald-Tribune” correspondent says that intensified bombing attacks, on Munda raise justifiable hopes that, this enemy base is being "softened up” for early invasion b.v American forces who are rapidly completing Hie destruction of the Japanese on Guadalcanal. Though. American Navy Department officials have declined to comment, they admit that Munda, ISO miles north-west of Henderson airfield, is the logical objective for an extension of the Allied offensive