Japanese Military And Air Strength Grew During War

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 237, 6 October 1945, Page 5

Japanese Military And Air Strength Grew During War

N.Z.P.A. —Copyright—Rec. 2 p.m.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5

In an address to Congress, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Allied naval Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, said that at the end of the war Japan could command an army of more than 5,000,000, compared with 3,000,000 at the time of Pearl Harbour., Japan's air force was surprisingly strong, too. At the end of the war it showed an increase of nearly 100 per cent. When the surrender was signed, Japan had 11,000 military aircraft, 6000 of which were combat planes.

The Allies had the advantage of overwhelming sea power. This, combined with a big striking force of Super Fortresses and the atomic bomb, gave them definite superiority. Admiral Nimitz paid a tribute to the splendid team work in the Pacific. He said that Australian and New Zealand forces had played their part in the defeat of Japan. There was also the magnificent work of the powerful British Pacific Fleet in the final assault on the Jap homeland.