THE STRUGGLE WITH JAPAN.

Evening Star, Issue 25173, 12 May 1944, Page 2

THE STRUGGLE WITH JAPAN.

In a speech in New York General Arnold issued a warning to Japan about things to come. Referring to the intense bombing of Nazi Europe, he said the Japanese may be sure that it is only a matter of time before the same treatment will be meted out to them. That is a convincing statement. The power and equipment of the United Nations are increasing all the time, and with a succession of island victories valuable bases, allowing for the provision of aerodromes, will be made available. Some interesting predictions were made in San Francisco recently by Mr Norman Soong, of the Chinese. Central News Agency. Said to be the only Chinese newspaper correspondent accredited to the United States armed forces, he paid a visit to America to gather information and impressions so that he might pass them on to the people of China. Although Mr Soong refers to himself as a " man from Chungking," which is the base from which ho works, he Is a native of the Hawaiian Islands and a loyal American citizen. Mr Soong expressed the belief that Japan cannot be driven to surrender exclusively by bombing, even from the comparatively close range of the Chinese mainland 1 , but that Allied armies must grapple with, the still vast Japanese army, only a small percentage of which has as yet been encountered by Allied troops. Mr Soong forecasts three years ahead before Japan surrenders unconditionally, and he believes that China, not Japan, will be the last battlefield of the Far Eastern war. .While the Chungking journalist is optimistic concerning the long-range view of tho struggle in the Pacific, he tempers that attitude with grave warnings concerning the difficulties ahead, even for the hard-driven American navy. " From the wide-open Pacific," he says, " penetration of Japan's inner defences will bo difficult. The small land masses surrounding Japan itself are virtually an ocean jungle." This experienced observer believes that Tokio in flames will not cause Japan _to surrender any more than Berlin in flames has brought about tho surrender of Germany. Taking a lesson from what has happened in Europe, the Japanese have already decentralised their industries, and the destruction of the great manufacturing cities of Tokio, Osaka, and Nagoya is not likely to bring about the collapse of the nation. Many factors will contribute to that certain end. Among these will be the expulsion of the enemy from the islands he has invaded, and the closing of the sea lanes to Japanese shipping, thuS preventing the flow of supplies to the country that are absolutely necessary and that have been available from the conquered territories. Japan's chief weakness is economic. This will bo intensified by_the Anglo-American plans that are being rapidly developed, and will ultimately lead to ber discomfiture.