Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1943. JAPAN’S STRENGTH & WEAKNESS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 October 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1943. JAPAN’S STRENGTH & WEAKNESS.

A DECLARATION that the war in the Pacific would he long 21 and hard, that the Allies had scarcely scratched the enemy yet in comparison with what remained to be done and that As we moved closer the Japanese would fight back harder' was attributed, in a cablegram received from Sydney yesterday, to Rear-Admiral D. E. Barbey, who commanded the naval lorce which participated in the recent attacks on Lae and Finschhalcn, in northern New Guinea. As embodying the considered opinion of a fm'hting commander who has taken an active and important part in the war against Japan, these observations cannot but be received with respect. At lhe same time, the views ol Admiral Barbey appear to be in some respects at variance with those that have been expressed, lor example, by Air G |llllelH . In the course of his war survey in the House ol Commons on his return from the Quebec conference, the British rime Minister said that much considerat ion was given al that mem mg to the war against Japan, ipid added, 111 part :— The fundamental fact in the war against Japan is the diminution in Japanese shipping in relation to the task . ap. n v • policy has imposed upon her. The Japanese cannot poss b li kII u vast areas they occupy upon a certam 'J ver Their losses certainly exceed any means t hey have 01 obtain of replacement. This is also true ol the Japanese an ioic<, be considered a wasting asset. While they can hardly be said to have departed from facts well and clearlv established facts, Mr Churchill s observations veic decidedly more hopeful than Admiral Barbeys statement, that, the Allies have scarcely scratched the enemy yet in comparison with what remains to be done. . Apart from the heavy losses of fighting and supply ships, aircraft and men they have suffered in n series ol naval and air battles, and in campaigns in the South-West 1 aeitie 111 which they have lost also a number of valuable bases and delensive positions, the Japanese have been rather more than scratched in the sinking of some hundreds of their ships by American submarines. Against Admiral Barbeys contention that. >c prospect we face is one of recapturing a number of strongholds separated by stretches of ocean,” there is to be set i\lr l liurchiU’? indicated opinion, based presumably on complete and accurate information, that shortage of shipping and a continuing relative decline in air strength will make it impossible for the Japanese to hold the vast areas they occupy. It may be that the Allies have decided, or are prepared to postpone action on the greatest scale against Japan until Nazi Germany has been overthrown. Even with that limitation m force, however, it may be possible to accelerate very considerably the process of attrition to which Mr Churchill referred and to make it more and more difficult for Japan to maintain her immensely extended communications and hold her outlv ing conquests. . Naturally no authoritative information is available as to the relative importance attached to operations in the South-West Pacific, to campaigns in Burma and Malaya directed io establishing direct and unimpeded contact with China, to an attack on the Philippines and other possible undertakings. Secrecy is observed also as to the order in which attacks are likely to he launched in different areas. It is said to be believed 111 wellinformed circles in Washington, however, that the v. ar against Japan will be predominantly a naval and air war, although land campaigns on a large scale will also be involved. M ith respect to Japan’s prospects both of maintaining her long-distance communications and of defending her homeland against air or other attacks it has to be remembered that the Japanese Navy has for months past been evading the decisive sea engagement winch an enlarged and strengthened American Fleet has been seeking eagerly.