STILL LIES AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 70, 20 September 1943, Page 5

STILL LIES AHEAD

MAIN WAR IN PACIFIC

Rec. 9 a.m,

LONDON, Sept. 19

"The Japanese have been more successful than other nations in concealing the details of the progress of their fleet," said Colonel Frank Knox, Secretary of the U.S. Navy, in an interview here. "No Japanese carrier has been seen at sea for four months. Japan's total amount of merchant tonnage was probably 7,500,000 tons, of which about 2,500,000 tons have been sunk by submarines. United States submarine losses have not been heavy."

"We must remember that where the Australians are fighting are only outposts that are being broken down," said Colonel Knox. Previously he paid a high tribute to Australia's war effort. He added: "The main fighting against the Japanese is to come and will be long and hard." Questioned about effects of events in the Mediterranean upon the Pacific, Colonel Knox said the release of surface vessels in the Mediterranean should contribute to an increase in strength in the whole of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Referring to American shipbuilding, Colonel Knox said the number of combatant vessels which would be launched in 1943 would equal the total strength of the United States combat vessels at the end of 1942.

"It would be a very serious error to assume that the U-boat menace had disappeared," added Colonel Knox. "We have given the U-boats a good shellacking, but they will be back for more. We shall be waiting for them. They are probably now equipping for fresh onslaughts." Paying a tribute to Britain for standing alone against a horde of enemies, Colonel Knox said: "She saved the world. Come what may, the rest of the world will always owe Britain a debt for that. No matter how much we may contribute to the fight it will always be present in every thoughtful American mind that in the grimmest part of the crisis Britain stood unyielding and alone. "I am glad to be able to say that to the British people, and I wanted to say it long ago."