WAR WITH JAPAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 72, 22 September 1943, Page 5

WAR WITH JAPAN

DEBATE OVER STRATEGY

STATEMENT BY MACARTHUR (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) JRee. 12.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 22. A wide difference of opinion in the strategy to be used in the drive against Japan is revealed in a statement issued in New Guinea by General Mac Arthur. The statement implies that Australia is the most natural and effective base from which to direct a major offensive against Japan because it has the industrial and agricultural resources, communications, arsenals, and other facilities to support massive strokes, using the methods of the Lac campaign. General Mac Arthur contends that such a conception is the very opposite of the "island-hopping" strategy involved in drives from Hawaii and the Aleutians, or from China by way of the Burma Road. General Mac Arthur made his statement when shown recent Press reports from the United States and Britain that Vice-Admiral Mountbatten's appointment means that General Mac Arthur's part in the war is to be progressively curtailed and reduced to a subsidiary role. "It makes little difference whether I or others wield the weapon, just so the cause for. which our beloved country fights is victorious," said General Mac Arthur in his statement. "My strategic conception for the Pacific theatre contemplates massive strokes against only the main strategic objectives, utilising surprise and air-ground striking power, supported and assisted by the fleet. This is the very opposite to the island-hopping which is a gradual pushing back of the enemy by direct frontal pressure with consequent hea.vy casualties. Key points must, of course, be taken, but a wise choice will be to obviate the need for storming a mass of islands now in enemy possession. "Island hopping, with extravagant losses, slows progress [some reports are indicating that victory will be postponed as late as 1949] and is not my idea of how to end the war as soon and as cheaply as possible. "The new conditions require for their solution and the new weapons require for their maximum application new and imaginative methods. Wars are never won in the past." NO PERSONAL AMBITIONS. "I have no personal military ambitions whatsoever, and am perfectly content in such a role as may be prescribed for me." It is believed that the main strategic objectives mentioned by General MacArthur include such areas as the Philippines and Malaya. Island-hopping, it is argued, would involve naval and air attacks from Hawaii, the Aleutians, or from China, via the Burma Road. Drives from these directions would have to be based either on the fardistant west coast of the United States or on equally distant India. . In addition, the Burma Road could not support operations on a major scale. General Mac Arthur considers the success of the co-ordinated campaign against Lac was a small-scale illustration of what could be done further north on a bigger scale. There is reason to believe that Lord Mountbat-' ten's- command includes part of the South-west Pacific area, although this has not been, officially confirmed or denied. Some observers link the present obvious differences of opinion between, General Mac Arthur and Washington on Pacific strategy with the tendency in some political circles in America to side-track General Mac Arthur. '