APPREHENSIONS IN TOKIO

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 310, 25 September 1943, Page 6

APPREHENSIONS IN TOKIO

General Tojo’s warning to the Japanese people to be prepared for greater sacrifices in the war, comes at a time when tilings have been going very badly for his Axis Allies in Europe, and by no means favourably for his own cause in the Pacific. As already reported, there have been special meetings of the Japanese Cabinet, and consultations between General Tojo and the Emperor, at which, no doubt, the unfavourable changes in the war situation from the Axis point of view have been discussed. The Japanese Prime Minister’s warning, following as it does upon these reports, would therefore seem to take on a significance which will not be overlooked by the United Nations generally, and by Australia and New Zealand especially, fl here is in this latest utterance by General Tojo none of the bombast and confidence that marked his earlier speeches when the war appeared to he developing favourably for the Axis in all theatres. The new note expresses a sense of danger, of apprehensions for the future. And well it might. It cannot be very assuring to the Japanese war-makers to watch the turn of events in Europe, where Italy lies prostrate, while the Germans are retreating westward from one. defence line to another under the pressure of the great Russian offensives, and are already betraying evidence of abandoning their outpost defences in the Eastern Mediterranean. Nor can the implications, of the recent successful Allied operations in the South-west Pacific be lightly estimated. These operations carry the meaning of purposeful strhtegy and gathering weight and momentum of the forces against them in this area. The menace of a planned'Allied offensive in Burma, lias also reared its head, and from the outlying prongs of the Aleutians, off Alaska, the Allies are steadily creeping forward toward effective bombing range of the Japanese mainland. As with Germany in Europe, Japan is bfing relentlessly forced back on the defensive. The changed aspect of the shipping situation in favour of the Allies has opened up possibilities of large-scale offensive action by sea at a stage of the war when Japanese shipping has suffered heavy losses, and her naval strength has sustained a scries of shocks. The initiative, in fact, has clearly passed to the Allies in the Pacific as it has in Europe. But that is not to hazard any assumption of an easy or early victory over the Japanese enemy. By withdrawing her outposts under pressure, and shortening her supply lines, Japan may be able to concentrate her strength for prolonged defensive 'strategy. Whether her internal economy will be able to stand the strain is another, question, but it is possible to perceive in the urgent note of General Tojo's speech that the problem of maintaining the national morale in the shadow of adversity is very prominently m his mind.