JAPAN’S PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 126, 23 February 1944, Page 5

JAPAN’S PROBLEM

Use Fleet Now, Or In

Home Defence VITAL MATERIALS IN DANGER (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received February 22, 9.30 (p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 21. The speed with which the Pacific offensive is accelerating suggests that Japan may be forced to risk her fleet m battle even before the critical hour of the defence of the homeland, says the American Associated Press. Tacticians in Washington, have expressed the view that the course of the American offensive is veering westward from the northward course it followed for a year and a half. The purpose of the change of direction has already been explained by Admiral Nimitz —the opening of a direct supply line to the Asiatic mainland. The establishment of such a line would isolate Japan from the whole southern half ot her zone of conquest, containing vitallyneeded raw materials, such as rubber and 01 The new Japanese military and naval chiefs must decide whether to make a major effort to halt the American advance now. It is noteworthy that Japan’s leaders are not trying to hide the seriousness of the situation from the Japanese people. The grave tenor of the Japanese broadcasts and speeches, and the shake-up in the High Command, indicate that General Tojo is trying to shake the nation out of its complacency and apathy. The heavy losses at Truk have been admitted in a communique broadcast by Tokio radio. Two cruisers, three destroyers, 13 transports, and 120 planes were lost in the American raid,, says the communique, and land installations were damaged. ■ , , . “The Japanese Government shake-up is the first confession of strategical failure, but is by no means an acknowledgment of defeat,” says the “New York Times” m an editorial. “Gn the contrary, it is a warning to the Japanese people that the land of the gods is endangered, which, by all precedents, will stimulate the fanaticism of the nation to even greater exertions. , "At the same time the new set-up is expected to have very concrete and practical results whieh might lead both to increased war production and more -active and more desperate strategy. General Tojo looks more like a Japanese Hitler, who has concentrated all political, military. and economic power in his hands. “This addition to reeent mysterious upheavals in some of Japan’s biggest bustness houses, suggests that Japan is moving under Tojo’s guidance toward an imperial socialism equivalent to Fascism and Nazism.” London’s Views.

Opinion in London is that the Japanese Cabinet changes undoubtedly, are due to Japanese recognition that things are not going as they should. The result of the changes is to concentrate power very much more in the hands of Cabinet and take it from military figures outside the Cabinet. Reuter's diplomatic correspondent says that the assumption by Tojo and Shimada of the functions of the service Chiefs of the Staff is a significant break with Japanese tradition. This step undon'i'+odly would not have been taken if the balance-sheet of military operations was showing a profit instead of a loss.. It has long been unwritten law ,m Japan that the army and navy are virtually independent of Cabinet and responsible only to the Emperor, but Cabinet is now able to override any opposition bw the army and navy staffs to its strategic policy, signs of which have recently not been wanting. Tojo in Control.

The Associated Press says that the sweeping shake-up apparently is the direct result of the American assault on Tokio radio later stated that the ousted Chiefs of Staff will remain on the board of field marshals and fleet admirals. A German correspondent in Tokio confirms that Tojo virtually has complete control in Japan. The Prime Minister is keeping all the threads in hie own grasp, the correspondent reports. Tojo has done this to stiffen up the national war effort in view of the constantly intensifying Allied attacks, he says. Another German account links up the changes with the heavy losses in the Ameriean assault on Truk. German reports say that the picture will make it clear to every Japanese that the situation in the Pacific is critical. - '

JAPAN’S BLACK WEEK Pacific Position Greatly Weakened

(By Telegraph'.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (; Australian Correspondent.) ’ SYDNEY,. February 22. Japanese losses in the Bismarck Sea area during the past week’s operations total 44 ships and 164 aircraft, it is reported in General MacArthur s communique today. The communique also announces staggering new blows at the Maintaining their close blockade on the Bismarck area, Allied air units on successive days inflicted additional heavy losses on Japanese shipping outwardbound from Rabjul and dispersed for safety in nearby coastal bays. Nine ships were sunk, comprising six medium-sized merchantmen and three escorting corvettes and patrol ships, while three other medium-sized freighters were severely damaged and probably destroyed. Rabaul itself was again heavily attacked bv Allied planes based on the Solomons. Of 50 intercepting enemy fighters 26 were destroyed in combat and three others were probably destroyed. Black Week for Japan. “The last week must rank as the blackest for Japan since the war ibesjan, says the “Sydney Morning Herald” in an editorial today. “There can be no minimizing the gravity of the shipping losses at Truk and Rabaul, and off New Ireland, or the shattering of the enemy s air force and its central base in the Caroin “A picture of the brilliant actions fought from last Tuesday evening onward offers an arresting spectacle of aggressive. modern sea-nower in alliance with its aerial arm. The range of American operations extended from the northern Marshalls to the shores of New Guinea, and t covered all the Bismarck Archipela Tlie “Herald’s” military writer says that much of the enormous value of Truk, depending on its invulnerability, has been lost to the Japanese. Now that its out - lying defences can no longer protect tne inner works and installations the operation of the base on a smooth schedule has become a day-to-day problem. Truk’s Value Lessened.

No longer will submarines be able to move in aiid out without trepidation, come and go, warships enter for refuelling, refitting, or repairs, and cargo transport to South Seas flow smoothly out. All movements will be constantly under the menace of American air power. It is suggested that the neutralization of Truk rather than its conquest will be Admiral Nimitz’s aim, just as it has been General MacArthur’s aim for Rabaul. To accomplish this it will be necessary first, to neutralize Truk’s important eastern outposts—Ponape and Kusaie, in the Carolines —and probably to capture them. Operations must also be undertaken west of Truk to cut the line of communications along the island stepping-stones between Truk and Japan. LAGGING BEHIND Japanese Lack Good Aero Engines (Received February 22, 9.45 p.m ) WASHINGTON, February 21. The Baltimore “Evening Sun,” quoting a Pearl Harbour dispatch, says that RearAdmiral Radford, chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet Naval Air Force, said: ‘ The Japanese still lag three or four years behind us in the development of high-pow-ered aircraft engines. This is probably the basic reason they have been knocked out so readily at Truk ’and Eniwetok, «uid other places,’*