The Dominion. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1942. STRENGTH TO HIT BACK

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 138, 7 March 1942, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1942. STRENGTH TO HIT BACK

, Speculation as to the future direction of the main Japanese offensive has this week become much more pointed. Such military opinion as has been made known to the public appears to have adopted the theory that the enemy’s pressure from the northern Pacific will be applied westward. For example, General Magruder, chief o the United States military mission to Chungking, is reported to have said that'he expects “a Japanese attack against India soon, including a naval attack against Calcutta.” If it could be assumed that the Japanese intended to concentrate exclusively on a major undertaking of this kind, timing it. perhaps, so as to coincide with an eastward spring offensive by Germany, the situation as it confronts Australia and New Zealand might )C looked upon as less directly menacing and urgent. But no such assumption would be safe or sane. Today Japan is conducting simultaneously three major and several additional minor offensive operations. She is invading Java in the south and Burma in the west, and continuing the war in China. Added to this she is attempting to reduce the Philippines and to complete her domination of occupied countries and island groups. Thus the westward drive towaid India is today actually in progress, as part of the general offensive scheme. There is no evidence that a decision by the Japanese Command to apply greater pressure westward would necessitate a halt elsewhere. On the contrary it is sensible to expect that until the Japanese find they are beginning to bite off more than they can chew until they are stopped by hard hitting—they will continue to push outward, to the south as well as to the west. 1 hat is the only safe expectation. To regard an intensified assault against Burma, with India as the objective, as a likely respite for ourselves would be wishful thinking of the most dangerous kind. Whatever be the Japanese plans in the west, Australia and New Zealand must stand to arms, realizing that the defences of Java are in sore straits, and that the fall of the island would clear the way to the south. Moreover, the enemy knows he cannot hope to win unless, sooner or later, he strikes south. As an American writer has said: Like every adventurer, Japan must knock out all her opponents. Moreover, Australia is a collaborator with the United States in the Pacific war, and Australia is almost certainly going to be a base for American operations in the Pacific. Every reverse in southeast Asia will increase Australia’s importance, and the Japanese can have no peace while Australia stands firm. What is more, the longer Japan waits the firmer will Australia—and New Zealand —be in a. position to stand. The Commonwealth Minister to Washington (Mr. Casey) said a day or two ago: Big things are moving- about which, for reasons of security. I cannot speak: but I feel I have had a very satisfactory day indeed for Australia.” Undoubtedly, behind the veil of needful secrecy, every effort is being strained, day after day, to assist the expansion of southern Pacific defences and to superimpose upon them the strength to hit back—to drive northward. It is that additional, vital Allied strength Japan must fear. The creation of it will spell her ceitain eventual disaster. We must be ready, without a day or an hour of unnecessary delay, to take the strain of a Japanese attempt by land or sea, directly or indirectly, to prevent the development of our strength.