WHY PACIFIC WAR MAY BE LONG

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 4, 29 September 1944, Page 5

WHY PACIFIC WAR MAY BE LONG

(Received September 28, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 27. The Office of War Information, after stating that the crushing of Japan will require an absolute minimum of 18 months to two years after Germany’s defeat, gave as its main reasons for this estimate the victory psychology of the Allies, Japan’s geographic position, shipping difficulties, loss of bases in China and the maintenance of Japan's war production. , , It is stated that though the number of Japanese plane losses is high as compared with America’s, Japanese, plants are turning out planes as rapidly as they arc destroyed. Japan will probably maintain and even increase this production. The Japanese are also .able to mass their airpower in it narrowing war theatre. Sinkings of Japanese ships are estimated at 1,500,000 tonfi a output has not yet reached 1,000,000 tons. „ , , The 0.W.1. estimates Japans army at 4,000,000, with approximately an additional 2,000,000 available ana 1,500,000 in the 17 to 20 age group not yet drafted On the Allied credit side, the O.M .1. states, the United States produces 8000 combat planes n month, as complired with Japan’s 1500, Pacific commanders assert that Japan has lost the power for a strategic offensive beyond (lie range of her Embused planes. Nevertheless the possibility of sporadic raids on Americas west coast is not yet eliminated.