The Dominion MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1942. HITTING BACK IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 174, 20 April 1942, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1942. HITTING BACK IN THE PACIFIC

One of the first public utterances by General MacArthur hi Australia was addressed to the beleaguered garrison in Balan. “I will be back,” he said. “We will drive the Japanese out of the Philippines.” Today the American hold on the islands is more precarious than ever, but the fortress of Corregidor is the strongest point of all and the garrison would seem to have at least a fighting chance of keeping the enemy at bay. What is more, the Commander-in-Chief, as an earnest of his intentions, has already reached out from his Australian base and struck a shrewd blow.as a pieliminary to his promised offensive. This blow has consisted of a series of devastating raids on Japanese positions in the Philippines by American Flying Fortresses and other long-range bombers. In addition, there comes the news from Japanese sources of the bombing of lokio and other places in the enemy’s own country, but at the time of writing no official statement about this had come from the Allied side, lhe indications are that the attacks were launched from an aircraft-carrier, perhaps more than one. As to the raid on the Philippines there will be lively curiosity as to the course taken by the raiders and the expedients adopted A wide stretch of enemy-held waters separate the Philippines from Australia. In addition to Ending a tenuous way to the objective, Brigadier-General Royce, who directed the attack in person, undertook the task of picking up certain American officers and bringing them back to Australia. The fact that so complicated and hazardous an operation was completely successful not only speaks highly for the leader who planned it, and for those who carried it out, but also gives great encouragement to our forces in the Pacific area as a whole. In recent weeks United Nations air attacks from Australia have found the enemy vulnerable in New Guinea; indeed they have severely blunted the spearhead of his advance at that point. But the foray against the Ihi ippines has been a blow of another kind—an offensive blow, lhe Japanese have now learned that their opponents are able to thrust as well as parry. . . , T , , It is not difficult to picture the elation on Corregidor island—and perhaps the astonishment—as Flying Fortresses climbed powerfully out of a distant horizon and pressed home their attacks. While the public of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the people o the United States, are entitled to share that feeling, it should and must be accompanied by a clearer realization of the magnitude ot the task ahfed. General MacArthur has given a most timely demonstration of his vigour and capacity as our Pacific commander his determination to reach for the initiative at the earliest opportunity. His first Australian-based operation should do more, overnight, than weeks of diplomatic negotiation, to bring about a settlement of any remaining question as to lhe extent or completeness of his authority. That out of the way, it remains for the Allied democracies from the Governments down to the humblest citizens to set shoulder to the wheel of the MacArthur campaign with all the will and strength at their command. Though the attack on the Philippines is an inspiring beginning it is a very small one by comparison with what has yet to be done to win back all that has been lost, and to defeat Taoan In good keeping with the Commander-in-Chief’s lighting action, Australia’s General Sir Thomas Blarney has once more spoken bluntly of the part the people must play. “Australians have been driven time and again from stricken fields,” he told an audience in Melbourne on Thursday last, “all because Australians at home, have not been ready to give all their time at their disposal, and their full strength, to prevent these disasters.” His meaning cannot be misunderstood. Australians—and, to no less an extent, New Zealanders—must be prepared to give their full strength in support of the fighting I'orces assembling in the Pacific area. There can be no half-measures, no holding back. The news that an offensive blow has been struck deeply into the enemy’s flank should be accepted as a sign that the time to begin a more general offensive effort —a supreme effort may not be far off. _____—