QUICK VICTORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 129, 2 June 1945, Page 8

QUICK VICTORY

GOAL OF UNITED STATES

Eec. 12.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, June 1

In his message to Congress, President Truman said: "The primary task facing the United States is to win the war against Japan as completely and quickly as possible. There can be no peace in the world until the military power of Japan is destroyed with the same completeness as the power of the European dictators. "At one time in 1943 the United States navy was employing over 1100 planes in the anti-submarine war in the Atlantic, and in the middle of 1944, over 900 ocean-going escort vessels. "Most of the latter have been or will be sent to the Pacific. It is a fact that we have sunk more Japanese .merchant tonnage than they had at the time of Pearl Harbour." Mr. Truman said: "As we approach Japan, the density of their air power naturally becomes greater. Eighteen months ago the enemy had over 9000 planes to guard perhaps 18,000.000 square miles. Since then we have reduced the total of his air power considerably, but the area which the enemy is now forced to defend, has shrunk so much that the density of his air power is four or five times as great as it was formerly." Pointing out that this meant stiff fighting in the air. and possible heavy naval damage, Mr. Truman appealed for more shipyard workers. GREATER PROBLEMS. "Shifting our ground and air strength from Europe presents transportation problems greater and more complicated than in the initial deployment of our forces in all parts of the world," he said. "Millions of men and mil-1 lions of tons of supplies must be moved half-way around the globe. But every day the process of transfer gains momentum. "After the last war, when the only problem was getting the men home and there was no bitter and powerful enemy left to fight, it took nearly one year to complete the evacuation of 1,933,000 men. This time we plan to move 3,000.000 troops from Europe before the year passes. The initial equipment requirement for each man fighting against Japan is about six tons, with an additional ton monthly for his maintenance." CONVERTING SHIPS. President Truman revealed that 316 cargo vessels were being converted to help to get the soldiers from Europe to the Pacific faster, while Britain is lending the Queen Elizabeth. the Queen Mary, and the Acquitania. The! President said that these, added to 501 American transport vessels, 800 bombers and transport planes, and such ships as America was able to use from the German merchant fleet will enable her to bring men home for a discharge ' without interfering with the main job of transferring troops and equipment to the Pacific. • Mr. Truman said: "Our army can deliver the heaviest blows in the Pacific and win the final victory very quickly with a strength which, a year from now, will be about 7,000.000. By maintaining our army at this size we shall be able to hurl against the Japanese an overseas force larger than the 3.500,000 men who united with the Allies to crush the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe. ALL SOLDIERS TO SERVE. "It is our plan that every physically fit soldier in the United States who has not yet seryed overseas shall be assigned to foreign duty." Mr. Truman said the Japanese have under arms a force larger thai* the Germans were ever able to put on the Western Front. "We have not yet come up against the main Japanese strength. The Japanese armies are organised into many combat divisions. The Japanese air force, despite heavy losses, still comprises over 3000 combat planes. "Japan is still capable of producing from 1250 to 1500 planes a month, despite our Super-Fortresses raids. "The total American casualties on Okinawa from March 18 to May 29 were 10,221 killed and missing, and 27,704 wounded. The' Japanese deaths to May 29 were 51,066. This is an example of the increasing toughness of the war as we get closer to Tokio. There is no easy way to win." PLAN FOR VICTORY. Mr. Truman added that the military policy for the defeat of Japan calls for, firstly, pinning down the Japanese forces where they are at present situated and keeping them divided so they can be destroyed piece by piece; secondly, concentrating overwhelming power on each segment which we now attack; thirdly, using ships, aircraft, armour, artillery, and all other material in massive concentrations to gain the victory with the smallest possible < loss of life; fourthly, to apply relentless and. increasing pressure by sea, air, and land, so the enemy cannot rest, reorganise, or regroup battered forces or his dwindling supplies to meet our next attack. •Mr. Teuman ou'imed the (uture of v/.ar production. He said it will require a high percentage of American resources. Munition production for the remainder of 1945 will be run at an annual rate of 54,000,000,000 dollars, which almost equals the 1943 rate and is over nine-tenths the rate during the peak in 1944. SLAVERY NOT PLANNED. * Mr. Truman said: "We have no desire or intention to destroy or enslave the Japanese people, but only surrender can prevent ruin which they have seen come to Germany as the result of continued and useless resistance." The President promised that what had already happened to Tokio would happen to every Japanese city the industries of which feed the Japanese war machine. "I urge civilians to leave thoso cities if they wish to save their iivos," he said. "The Japanese now 'enow their dreams of conquest are shattered and they can do longer boast of dictating peace terms in Washington. This does Dot mean, however, that the Japanese have given up hope. They are depending on America tiring of this war —becoming weary of the sacrifices it demands. They should know better should realise that this nation is now at the peak of its military strength and will not relax or weaken in its purpose. "We will see the fight through to a complete and victorious finish." LAVAL TO GIVE HIMSELF UP Eec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON June 1. Pierre Laval has decid-.vl to give himself up to General de Gaulla's Government, says the British United Press correspondent at Barcelona. It is expected that he will shortly fly from Barcelona to a French airfield. Laval's wife and four companions who arrived in Spain with him are likely to remain in Spain, with restricted freedom of movement.