Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1943. “WITH THE GREATEST VIGOUR.”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1943. “WITH THE GREATEST VIGOUR.”

leader of a nation at war lias ever avoided more sedulously than has Mr Church'ill the making of optimistic promises and predictions. On that account, some of his observations at his joint conference in Washington with President Roosevelt on Tuesday are likely to be regarded, not least by people on this side of the world, as very heartening indeed. Mr Churchill is reported to have said that it was indisputable that the tide of war had turned in favour of the United Nations and that:—

The British and American leaders had arrived at good conclusions on the prosecution of the war in the Pacific with the greatest vigour. An all-out war would be waged in Europe and Asia until unconditional surrender had been made by all hostile Powers.

According to another report, transmitted by the 8.8. C., the British Prime Minister also said that the resources of the Allies had so increased that they were in a position to wage vigorous and effective war “against both of our enemies at the same time.”

The statements thus attributed to Mr ChiVrchill would appear to imply a very considerable easing of the limitations hitherto understood to apply for the time being, and under the “Beat. Hitler first” policy, to action in the Pacific against Japan. It may be wise to await confirmation and elaboration, in words or in events, of the British Prime Minister’s reported utterances at the Washington Press conference. These utterances follow interestingly, however, upon other recent statements by Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt regarding the large proportion of the mobilised forces of the United States allotted to the Pacific. A great deal no doubt is to be hoped from a vigorous intensification of the war against Japan of which at least tentative prospects are now raised.

In spite of the measure of advantage she enjoys from her interior communications and ocupation of rich conquered territories, Japan is already conducting the war under a very considerable total strain and is handicapped by a shortage of shipping and definitely limited productive resources. She is being attacked vigorously and persistently, though as yet by comparatively small forces, in the South-West! Pacific and the Aleutians. Apparently finding herself as far as ever from being able to attempt decisive action in China,, she faces the certainty of a powerful Allied bid, at no very distant date, for the reconquest of Burma and adjacent territories and the reopening of free contact between China and the rest of the Allied world.

Then again, while there have been some noisy threats of late in. Tokio of what Japan will do if Russia ventures to make Siberian air bases available to the Allies, it is rather more important that a strong Japanese army is held idle in Manchuria lest the Soviet Union should elect to make common cause with the Allies in the Pacific.

The total situation as it can meantime be visualised is one that might be changed dramatically and swiftly by an extension and enlargement of Allied offensive action. It is already indicated that Japan’s war resources, in some essential particulars, are at least beginning to be overtaxed.