AID FROM JAPAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1943, Page 5

AID FROM JAPAN

GERMANY'S GREAT HOPE

DELAYING ALLIED

OFFENSIVE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, January 24. | "Germany is. looking to v Japan for help," remarks the "Observer" in an article headed "Can Japan Save the Germans?" It is sometimes suggested, the article says, that the Japanese do not care very much for their European partners. "That is a false conclusion, drawn from -correct premises. Japan's policy will be not to do anything which might go against her own interests. Therefore she will not embark on any venture merely to satisfy the demands of her allies, but on the other hand Japanese interests dictate very j definitely that the two naval Powers and the one land Power wliidi can challenge her hegemony in Asia shall not be triumphant in Europe. To that extent, therefore, she is vitally interested in German victory, and she will go to great lengths to prevent German defeat." In doing so, the article continues, the Japanese policy pursues its own ends, and the pattern of this policy is now becoming recognisable. Pointing out that Japan has not increased her army in any appreciable form since Pearl Harbour, the writer says there have been numerous, reports that the army is engaged in industrial, agricultural, and road-building work in the Japanese-occupied countries. Everything points to the single fact that the Japanese are aiming at the greatest possible amount of industrial strength. "For the next six months," the article says, "it will be the main Axis object to prevent the. United Nations from concentrating shipping which will enable the building up of a great Allied striking force for assault in Europe. Hitler's urgent need is to create a second front against our shipping, while the U-boats are most damaging in their onslaughts. His one great hope is Japan. It is evident that the Allies are given priority—rightly— in the European theatre of war. Such forces as are in the Pacific are maintained on the basis of strict economy of force. Only a major attack either against India or Australia could lead to an alteration in the present distribution of Allied shipping and armed forces. Germany must tide over the next critical eight months. She needs time. Her hopes are staked on Tunisia and Japan. These alone can delay the great concentrated effort of the United Nations on offensive."