The Bay of Plenty Times MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1942 ENEMY DEVELOPS FEAR COMPLEX

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13769, 12 October 1942, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1942 ENEMY DEVELOPS FEAR COMPLEX

The speech delivered by the President of the Toldo Umveroty was frank in its character, and intended to give the people ol Japan a new and not very pleasing picture of the war as it afreets ra« Japanese nation. He said that "contrary to expectations our enemies seem to be righting back and regaining their "Otrng. This must be sad news for the Japanese people who up to recent weeks have been told almost day after day of the victorious march of Japanese troops in the prosecution of the Greater Easit The Japanese were able to push forward because then enemies were unprepared. They could not be stopped. For over _ nine months Japanese troops have swarmed over the territories in the Far East, and now the Allied nations have called a halt ine pendulum has begun to swing the other way and the swing; bacK will not stop until the Japanese are completely driven out ot the conquered countries. This University President told the Japanese people that if they did not face the situation with a new firm determination they will be confronted with a terrible end. Firm determination will not win the war. It is manpower and equipment that is absolutely necessary, and Japan, like Germany, is beginning to feel the pinch of both of these. Let us review the position in our own neighbourhood. The Japanese occupied the Solomon Islands, and Tulagi was to be a naval base. They landed in Papua, and established themselves at Buna. 1 heir rorecs marched up to Kokoda, and the small Australian force there had to retire. The Japanese then performed the herculean task ot crossing the formidable Owen Stanley Range and reaching to within dU miles of Port Moresby. Our own authorities got the wind up and started to develop the fear complex on the peoples of Australia and JSew Zealand Port Moresby was reinforced and the Australian troops moved forward. The Japanese, who are said to be weak in defence tactics, soon began to run back, leaving behind them equipment and supplies. The Australians are nearly back to Kokoda where it is to be hoped there will be a showdown with the Japanese. At Guadalcanal-, which the American marines recovered, the Japanese have been making strong efforts to get back but have failed in all their attempts. The secret of this failure is lack of war equipment. Japan is running short of shipping and air strength. It is confirmed from Berlin that the Japanese are feeling the pinch of shipping losses, and many of the Japanese troops in occupation of some of the islands in the Malay Archipelago must have to find sustenance in the localities they occupy. The shipping position of Japan must become increasingly worse, as the naval forces of the United States, together with the air force of the Allies, continue to destroy shipping. Adequate shipping is of vital importance to Japan because of her long sea lines of communication. Shipping is also an important factor for the Allies but while the latter are able to make good the losses, and even exceed them, Japan, with her restricted industrial resources, is unable to do so. Every ship lost is a very serious matter for Japan. Japan's air force is dwindling. This has been revealed m the Solomon Islands and in. New Guinea, where the Allied air force is scarcely opposed. Japan cannot make good aeroplane losses and build up a reserve at the same time. The planes raiding Burma scarcely meet with any opposition, and the American Air Force in China also seems to have matters all its own way. Japan's star is on the wane. It is no longer desirable or necessary to frighten the people of New Zealand about the dangers of attack. That is too remote now to be used as war effort propaganda.