The Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21st, 1942 MAJOR MISTAKES IN MALAYA

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13548, 21 January 1942, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21st, 1942 MAJOR MISTAKES IN MALAYA

The London newspapers are not gentle in their criticisms of the major mistakes made in the Far East, not alone by the British representatives, but also by the I nited States and the Netherlands East Indies. But there is nothing* to be gained by dealing with what has passed. It would be more to the point to insist upon remedial measures being taken promptly. A hat appears to be needed in the Far East is adequate reinforcements of all arms, and we cannot believe that this is being neglected. Our Chinese Allies are becoming restive, and that is not surprising when prominent officials are leading us to believe that the destruction ot: Hitler is more important that the defeat of the Japanese. But even such a statement cannot be accepted without reserve, l’6r it may be that this is just propaganda designed to mislead the Japanese. But the position in the Far East, apart from being humiliating and very disappointing, is not without serious dangersWhile the present is causing considerable anxiety, we must not overlook the small favourable factors which are certain to develop into big things before very long. General Sir Archibald Wavell. and his colleagues are now at their headquarters in the Netherlands East Indies, and we may be sure that they will not waste time in twiddling their thumbs. Sir Archibald has had time to make a survey of the situation and prepare his plans i operations, in collaboration with the American officers. It is not unlikely that those plans are ready for execution. The first trickle of reinforcements have arrived at Rangoon, but we do not know the strength of these reinforcements. However, we take it that they are the harbingers of more to come. And further reinforcements should be on the way from the United States, Britain and India. Moreover, China could spare an additional 100,QUO men for service in Burma. Chiang Kai Shek has a fully trained army of 5,000.000 in North China, and has in addition 2,000,u00 m u m training. In free China, controlled by Chiang Kai Shek, there is a population of 180,000,000 so that manpower for all war purposes and for civilian service is available. The forces in Burma must be fairly considerable, and it seems clear that the Allied attack will start in Burma against Thailand, and thus take the Japanese endeavouring to attack Singapore in the rear. The Allied plan will not be complete until Russia declares war on Japan, and attacks the Japanese in the north, and thus forces Japan to give concentrated attention to her position in North China. The danger confronting Japan is her far-tlung battle line which she has created, and which she can hold so long as she has a preponderance of manpower and war materials. It would be stupid to assume that the British and Americans are not doing their utmost. It is because we are not told what is going forward that is making us impatient and leading a lot of people to assume that nothing is being done. As against this we must realise that secrecy is imperative. The enemy must not be allowed to learn any particulars of the moves of the Allies. We do believe that it will not be very long before the Allies start an offensive or make some move that will shock the Japanese. Let us be patient and give the responsible authorities some credit that the}- will take action that ultimately will be effective. The Japanese cannot be the victors in the Far East.