JAPANESE AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE AIMS

OPINIONS OF LONDON WRITER GREATEST IMMEDIATE THREAT TO CHINA. EFFECT OF NAVAL DEFEATS. (Special P.A. Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. . “Scrutator,” in an article in the “Sunday Times,” voices the opinion that Japan’s leading aim at present would appear to be the crushing of Independent China and also that of checking American approaches to Japan across the Pacific. As illustrations, he cites the • attacks against China from Burma, and also in Chekiang and Fukien, together with the moves against the Aleutians Islands and Midway Island. Chekiang and Fukien were selected for attack following upon the Tokio raid, when American aircraft landed in China.. This alarmed the Japanese, who want to occupy the Chinese aerodromes before the American bombers can operate “from them. The attacks against the Aleutians and Midway Island sprang from a new fear of the Americans moving across the North Pacific. “Scrutator” suggests that, while there is a small chance of the initiative passing to America in the near future, yet Japan’s initiative may henceforth be curtailed. The Japanese have now lost four aircraft-carriers in a shorter space of time than, it is believed, they can replace them and may well be chary of sending their remaining carriers far from the beaten track. Australia should benefit thereby. It is not thought that the Japanese will attack Russia while Australia remains uninvaded and China unconquered and America is grouping her forces nearer to Japan. It is believed that Japan’s greatest threat today is against China.