AFTER EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 8

AFTER EUROPE

Plans For Smashing Japan ALREADY WELL IN HAND (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received August 25, 8.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 24. The “New York Times” correspondent who recently travelled by air across the Pacific, says he saw everywhere large-scale preparations for throwing a mass of men ami material against the Japanese, which is amazing considering the present European operations. , , , There is cold confidence at the headquarters of both Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur that by the time our gigantic air force can be transferred from Europe, both the British and American fleets and the additional land forces needed will be in a strategic position to turn this overwhelming power . upon Japan proper, and the enemy armies in China without having to go through the preliminaries. . There is feverish activity and midnight oil being burned both at the Army’s and Navy’s Pacific headquarters as the preparations are rushed for the final death blow against Japan. Spokesmen at both Admiral Nimitz s and General AlacArthur’s headquarters spoke bluntly of the excellent co-opera-tion prevailing on the prospective operations. The conferences with Mr. Roosevelt at Pearl Harbour definitely set the pattern for the immediate speeded-up moves in the vast Pacific area, where so many strategic alternatives lie open, and everyone appears satisfied with these decisions. Strategic Objective.

The view is that if Luzon (Philippines) is taken, not only will the American flank be protected for the move to Formosa or to China, but vital Japanese supply lines to the Indies and Singapore will be cut off, thus weakening Japans ability to make a final effective stand and permitting the British to move relatively easily back to Singapore. General MacArthur's return to Luzon will mark a milestone in American Army history. Beyond the Philippines the Navy may well take the lead, since a landing on Formosa or the China coast or Japan would be essentially an amphibious operation, in which Admiral Nimitz’s forces would at least initially play a major part. In the Pacific there is little disagreement among responsible officers about such a course, but the final decision will bo made at Washington, where the views of the Allied as well as the .American commanders will be taken into consideration. 40,000 KILLED IN PACIFIC Counted Japanese Dead (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received August 25, 9.10 p.m.)_ STONEY, August 20. Counted Japanese dead in nine sectors of the South-west Pacific theatre since December total 40,910. The figures do not include those for the campaigns waged by the Australians through the Finisterres, and on the northern New Guinea coast. Japanese losses from attrition and air attack would also swell the total by many thousands. The figures for the. areas named arc: Admiralties, 4027; New Britain, 4891: Bougainville, 9547: Aitape, 8265; Hollandia, 3752: Sarmi, 3829; Biak, 4731 ; Noemfoor, 1635; Sansapor, 197. Mop-ping-up operations are continuing in some of these sectors. About 200 R.A.A.F. fighter-bombers, Hie largest number yet engaged on any Pacific mission, have bombed and strafed airfields on Vogelkop Peninsula. Dutch New Guinea. The effect of these attacks is that the trapped Second Japanese Army cannot hope for air aid in their escape bid. CAPTUREDISLANDS Conversion To Offensive NEW YORK, August. 24. Upon his return from an inspection tour of Guam, Saipan and Tinian, General Vandegrift, Marine Corps commander, told a Press conference: “Our Pacific fighters are now thoroughly convinced that they are up against an enemy so fanatical that he does not know the meaning of quitting.” General Vandegrift reported that great strides were made in converting captured Pacific islands into offensive bases, and roads and airfields were being rapidly improved. RAIDS IN~JPACIFIC Targets Over Wide Area (Received August 25, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 24. Stepping up their offensive against rialmahera. the Japanese stronghold midway between New Guinea and the Philippines. General MacArthur’s aircraft have pounded the area with a record bomb load of 156 tons. They caused widespread damage and encountered no enemy aerial interference. Mopping up in all sectors of New Guinea, the Allied ground forces have killed a further 1647 Japanese and captured 207 more prisoners. Venturas bombed. Parainushiro on Sunday, obtaining direct hits on storage areas, says the Pacific Fleet communique. They also sank a small vessel and damaged another. Liberators attacked Yap Island on Tuesday and bombed bivouac areas. Pagan and Rota Islands in the Marianas were attacked on Monday and Tuesday, and Agnijan Island was raided on Tuesday. Venturas bombed Nauru on Tuesday and Wednesday, and concentrated on airstrips. z Dauntlesses and Corsairs continued neutralization attacks against enemy positions in the Marshalls, hitting Wotjc on Monday and Tuesday, and Alili on Tuesday. PROGRESS IN BURMA RUGBY, August 24. It is stated in London that with the monsoon at its height progress in Burma is difficult, but the Allies are consolidating the ground won and also are continuously patrolling forward. In the Imphal area there are three lines of advance — south toward Tiddim, to the cast, in the Tamu area, and further north, the Ukhrnl-Homaliu line of advance toward the Chindwin. A communique says that on the Tiddim Road Fourteenth Army troops are again in contact with the enemy and are following up a successful attack on the Japanese position. The main air attack was on enemy oil installations just north of Protne. and these were set on fire. CHINESE SUCCESSES (Received August 25. 9..10 p.m.) CHUNGKING, August 21. The Chinese High Command has announced that the Chinese have captured all the old section of Lyngling, also four defence positions outside the town. The Chinese position in Hunan province has improved with attacks against the Japanese flanks making progress. Chinese diversionary attacks in Hupeh province have widened, with fighting going on at a number of points between Hankow ami lehatig.