The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY. OCTOBER 16, 1944. NEW AMERICAN OFFENSIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 245, 16 October 1944, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY. OCTOBER 16, 1944. NEW AMERICAN OFFENSIVE

AFTER his conference in Hawaii with Admiral Nimitz and General Mac Arthur, in August, President Roosevelt spoke of new attacks •'soon" against the Japanese, and said the American forces were "going to get the Philippines back as fast as the Lord will allow." Last week's developments suggest that the preliminary operations to this great undertaking are under way. The week opened with a heavy blow by carrier-based planes on the Ryukyu Islands, between Formosa and the Japanese mainland. Ships and planes were the targets. Next day, Tuesday, carrier-based planes struck at Luzon, in the Philippines, over 200 miles to the south of Formosa. On Thursday it was Formosa's turn. This island was the base from which the Japanese launched their assault on the Philippines in December, 1941. It has been described as the largest base outside Japan and the possible refuge of the Japanese main fleet. However, no warships were found there, but heavy blows were struck at the island's communication system, and a large number of planes—according to revised reports, nearly four hundred—were destroyed. Then on Saturday came another blow from another quarter. A great force of Super Fortresses—according to Tokyo, 450—thundered down on the island and bombed arsenals, aircraft plants, airfields and other installations. These operations, great alike in conception and in magnitude, will impose on the Japanese the hardest test they have had to date. The tactics which they used so effectually at the beginning of the war, when they knew exactly what they wanted to do, were prepared to do it and were able to do it because their enemies were unprepared and weak, are being used against them now. The fighters they have available are being destroyed, in combat or on the ground. The ships upon which they rely for reinforcements and supplies are also being destroyed, not only in the Philippines out along the supply line. Their repair installations are being wiped out. Ultimately, though how soon it is impossible to judge, the time will be ripe for invasion and for the struggle against the Japanese land forces. It will be a hard struggle. The battle for Saipan demonstrated the will of the Japanese to fight to the last, despite the knowledge that they were doomed. But Saipan is a small island by comparison with the larger islands of the Philippine group or with Formosa, which is approximately 250 miles long and 100 miles wide However great the destruction previously done by air and sea forces—and it is notable that the commander of the Super Fortresses says that their experimental period is over, and now they are "really ready to go to work"—a major campaign will be necessary before the Japanese are mastered. Meanwhile, not for the first time, there is speculation as to the whereabouts and the intentions of the Japanese Fleet. If the present assaults on the Northern Philippines and Formosa are followed by an invasion there will be little chance of destroying it at the outset except by naval action, such as the Japanese Fleet refrained from when Saipan was attacked. It will be the object of the American commanders to create a situation in which the Japanese Fleet will be forced to intervene. If they are successful, the consequences may be far more decisive than any to be hoped for even by the recapture of the Philippines.