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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 199, 20 May 1944, Page 6

Despite the fact that they have, in the aggregate, large numbers of men ent off in various zones in the Pacific, I lie Japanese have made no concerted effort to effect their escape. For. possibly the same reason, they have made no systematic attempt to reinforce them. TIT forces occupying various islands, or posts on the larger of them, have apparently been left to their fate. The explanation suggested is that the enemy cannot afford to expose the necessary transport to Allied attack. Their last reported effort to get convoys through to New Guinea —now a considerable time ago—proved extremely costly. Some military commentators have said that the Japanese, high command never had any intention of withdrawing those advanced forces. They were simply large syicide units, ordered to hold on as long as possible and to die lighting. The Japanese still hold .Taluit, tin- strongest position in the Marshall group, and there can be no possibility of the garrison being relieved. It is doomed, as are those on several other islands, including New Guinea. And the enemy forces on islands such as fl imor, which are gradually being isolated, must face the same fate. Probably here and there throughout the more southerly islands small groups of Japanese are seeking ways and means of escape, but to them, as to the people in Japan itself, this must seem to be a tragic ending of what they wore told was to be an expedition of assured conquest