MUST CRUSH JAPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 204, 28 August 1943, Page 5

MUST CRUSH JAPS.

"MORTAL FOE" OF U.S.A. J' Alaska As Base For Launching j Offensive N.Z. Press Association—Copyright ( Rec. 1 p.m. NEW YORK, Aug. 27. |||I "We must carry the war to Japan. fil We must wade in and tear her apart. |j. • j.' Japan is our mortal foe." This de- £■' • ?« claration was made by Lieutenant- $< | General John L. Dewitt at the If , }.; Aleutians base after he had returned tj , | from an inspection of Attu. || | He added: "Japan had a year to jjj r pour concrete in the gun positions k S which cover all the beach landings. 1 f She is training tlie armies of the | r ] conquered people. She is pillaging jij 1j the richest empire in the world to ft j f | make guns to fight us. To-day we li \ ■ have only Japan to fight. Hi 11

Lieutenant Dewitt

"If we wait for Japan to organise the countries she has overrun we will be fighting the heaviest manpowered nation in the world. We must not give Japan a chance to instil her doctrines into the conquered peoples. We must not let her dip deeper into the rich treasures she has now won. "Alaska is one base from which to launch an offensive. At the same time the Philippines should be recaptured and aid to China speeded up by a multiple pronged offensive against Japan." Closer Bombing Bases Needed Urging the need for closer bomber bases, General Dewitt said that bombing could not be successfully done by planes based 750 miles from their target. One bomber based within 250 miles was worth five bombers 750 miles away. Also referring to the war in the North Pacific, Vice-Admiral Greenslade, Commandant of San Francisco Naval District, said that Paramushiro Island, the most northerly of the Kuriles, just off the lip of Kamchatka, could become Japan's Sicily. He expressed the opinion that Japan's industry and transport were not geared up sufficiently to maintain a balance with the Allied gains in material forces. The war, he added, was far from won, but when it was a special penalty must be devised to fit the nation that "thinks, acts, kills, and dies en masse like a monstrous man who very nearly once had us in his grasp."

MANY RUMOURS

British Complaints Against Spaniards AGREEMENT REPORTED Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 27. Official circles say that the meeting between the .British Ambassador, Sir Samuel Hoare, and General Franco resulted In a two-point agreement. Firstly, Britain has given assurances regarding the independence and integrity of Spanish territory, Spanish colonies and Spanish protectorates; and, secondly, that there would be no pressure on the Spanish Government's liberty of action.

Many rumours have arisen since Sir Samuel Hoare's interview with General Franco last week, some from Spanish sources even suggesting that it was restricted to British assurances of various kinds to the Spanish Government.

In actual fact, says The Times diplomatic correspondent, Sir Samuel Hoare again brought forward complaints which the British Government had been forced to make against the Spanish Government on the ground of discrimination against the Allies. The complaints dealt with activities not simply in Spain, but in Spanish Morocco and Tangier. There has lately been improvement in the general situation, but several grievances are outstanding with regard to incidents and tendencies which conflict with the declared policy of equal treatment among the belligerents. Sir Samuel Hoare left several detailed memoranda with General Franco. SAILOR'S HEROISM Action In Shark-infested Water SUBMARINE TUBE CLEARED N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 11 a.m. SYDNEY, this day. A sailor from an Allied submarine in the Central Pacific area dived overboard 20 times into shark-infes-ted waters to clear a torpedo tube, which had become fouled in front by a drifting tree. Because-of the danger from sharks and poisonous water snakes, he wore a camouflage dress of brown, even to shoes. By the time he had cleared the tube the sailor's hands were badly cut by barnacles. They took three weeks to heal.

Parts of the tree were caught in the outer door of the torpedo tube and they prevented it from closing. This meant that the torpedoes could not be fired. The work occupied 45 minutes, during which time there was always the chance that the submarine might be forced to dive, leaving the brave volunteer to his fate. DANES ON TRIAL COPENHAGEN RIOTING Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 27. Over 100 persons were tried in Copenhagen to-day as a result of disturbances, according to the Danish radio, which added that large crowds continued to gather in the streets and squares adjoining the Town Hall. Altogether 130 were arrested, including students, shopkeepers, tradesmen and labourers. Magistrates were called from outside districts in order to cope witn the cases, many of which were heard in improvised eourtrcoms. Most sentences were * ro ™ thev days. Danes were warned that tney. were liable to two ment for gathering in public places.