ALLIED STRATEGY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1942, Page 3

ALLIED STRATEGY

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON ANTICIPATION OF JAPANESE ATTACKS. TALK OF AN OFFENSIVE FROM CHINA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 5. President Roosevelt held a three hours’ conference with the leading representatives of the British and American Staff Councils. The “New York Times” says that the President called the conference in order to devise a new strategy necessitated by the fear that Japan may attack Australia and India. Netherlands officials in Washington, the newspaper says, point out that an additional 100 planes from the Allies would have turned the tide in the East Indies battle, and they add that the aeroplane shipments from America to the Far East have been ample in) the past few days, but were very unsatisfactory earlier. They further point out only the unsatisfactory influx of aeroplanes from the Allies has prevented China hitherto from making an attack against Japan. The New York “Herald-Tribune” also describes Mr Roosevelt’s conference as one of major importance, and' it says that the measures discussed give cause to expect an early land offensive and an air attack against Japan from China. The “Tribune” interprets Dr. Van Mook’s statement that an attack on the enemy can be expected “from another side” as meaning that the Chinese Army is receiving substantial aid with a view to establishing a crushing anti-Japanese offensive by the combined Chinese, British and American forces. NO REGULAR FRONT I DUTCH FORCED TO YIELD GROUND. ENEMY ADVANCE THROUGH PLANTATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 6. Lieutenant-General ter Poorten’s stubborn little army yesterday yielded more ground in the west, centre and east, says the Bandoeng correspondent of the “Daily Express.” “It is impossible for the Dutch to establish a regular front at any point,”'

he writes. “This is a war in which the enemy has moved free tree to tree, from plantation to plantation, and not along the roads which can be protected by anti-tank barriers, armoured cars or tanks. Dutch troops who have been in the forward positions say that they sec the enemy if they are lucky, but usually they have been attacked from three sides without catching a glimpse of the little yellow men with tommy-guns.” Two towns between Batavia and Bandoeng have been occupied. In the east the enemy are believed to be 40 miles from Surabaya. The thrust near the centre is approaching the south coast.