FULL AGREEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1943, Page 3

FULL AGREEMENT

ON FUTURE OPERATIONS IN ALL THEATRES OF WAR REACHED IN ALLIED TALKS IN WASHINGTON. TERSE AND DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT. LONDON, May 27. The conference of the combined staffs in ’Washington has ended in complete agreement on future operations in all theatres of war.

This statement, dramatic in- its terseness and importance, was issued simultaneously tonight in Washington and in London. In Washington it was handed to journalists by President Rotosevelt’s secretary, Mr Stephen Early. “That is all I have for you,” he said. The statement was issued in President Roosevelt's name, though it was originally planned to issue it jointly with Mr Churchill. A decision on the new arrangement was made at the last minute today. The Washington talks lasted a fortnight. Mr Churchill arrived in the United States on May 12. WAR ON JAPAN POSSIBILITIES OF ATTACK IN NORTH. DISCUSSION IN AUSTRALIA. (Snecial Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 27. The direction of the intensified war against Japan, which was promised by Mr Churchill anci President Roosevelt, is the subject of wide conjecture. Many observers are attaching heightened significance to the American attack on Attu, in the Aleutians, and express the opinion that for the present the main Allied moves against Japan will be developed on her eastern flank from these northern areas.

Is is reasoned that Britain and the United States are now finally in a position to open a second front in Europe and are seeking *to co-operate their military plans with Russia to an extent which hitherto has been impossible. Such co-ordination, it is hoped, may eventually result in Russia’s commitment in the war against the Asiatic as well as the European Axis. Mr Churchill's statement that Britain and the United States would welcome the use of Russian territory as a bombing base against Japan is more broadly envisaged as encompassing a solution' of the puzzle of how to reach Japan’s home islands. The Aleutians, of course, offer the quickest route to Asiatic Russia. These war commentators see in this method of approach the possibility of a speedier ending of the war, in the Pacific .than is contained in the development of an all-out offensive against Japan from its western flank, that is, from India, Burma and China.

Burma and China. While the concluding stages of the struggle against Japan are likely to see heavy blows struck from this quarter, it is increasingly felt that too much should not be expected in this area in the decisive intermediate stage of the war. Some observers now suggest that the war against Japan will be almost won before the Allies possess sufficient jungle-trained troops, suitably equipped and supported, to bring adequate pressure to bear on the enemy's wellprotected western flank. The Indian Army of 1,750,000 is reported to be composed mainly of fresh native recruits with little martial tradition or military training, and to raise this force’s training and equipment to a level where Japan's large and expert army can be driven back and land communication with China re-estab-lished is itself seen as a long job. Then to equip and train China’s vast manpower - resources would necessitate a further lengthy delay before the final crushing blow could be delivered against Japan from the west.

Shipping and Supplies, Nevertheless, with the opening of the Mediterranean, resulting in the estimated saving of 2,000,000 tons of shipping to Britain this year, augmented supplies for India as well as for the southern Pacific area are certain. Official American reports declare that already General MacArthur has been sent “substantial reinforcements,” while Mr Churchill told an Australian correspondent at his Washington Press conference that “Japan’s offensive strength in the southern Pacific is now less than when I was previously in Washington.” Thus there is an anticipation, of a general acceleration of the war against Japan, with blows from more than one quarter. Observers particularly welcome the Attu operation as ending the virtual stalemate in the Pacfic which has existed for more than six months past. The American commentator Hanson Baldwin says that it is “a small but highly significant part in difficult pattern of Pacific strategy.” He adds that any pattern of conquest in the Pacific is bound to be slow and probably costly, and certainly tedious. "Therefore,” he concludes, “the sooner we begin to develop the pattern the quicker will the Pacific war end.” GRAVE OUTLOOK

PERCEIVED BY JAPANESE SPOKESMAN. NEW YORK, May 26. The Tokio radio says that Mr Fumio Goto, former Home Minister, has been appointed Minister witthout portfolio. In a formal statement on his appointment, Goto said: “The war situation has further increased in seriousness. We are now facing an unprecedentedly grave sittuation. We must thoroughly fulfil our duty to the Imperial household.” He added that the most urgent demand at the present was to consolidate Japanese strength and “firmly establish the domestic structure for a decisive battle.”