Greymouth Evening Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1944. MAY NOT BE SO EASY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1944. MAY NOT BE SO EASY.

IT is taken for. granted by commentators that a more vigorous prosecution of the war against Japan will be one result of the Churchill-Roosevelt discussions. The Allied successes against Germany have reached the stage when the main objective is in sight, and large sea, aerial and land forces will be’ duly available for Far East operations. The Japanese are already on the defensive, and the Americans have made valuable progress towards Tokio, but a great deal more must be achieved before the enemy is down and out. Considering the difficulties of transport, the immensely favourable start that the Japanese secured in the early stages of the war, and the demands of the European and African campaigns, the Allies have cause for gratification with to-day’s position in the Pacific, but there is a general feeling of some degree of disappointment. “Island-hopping” has served its purpose, and major attacks on Japan, itself, are now demanded. Fierce as has been the opposition that the Allies have met from the Japanese, so far, it must be expected that even more fanatical resistance will be forthcoming when the enemy’s homeland is the target. Easy victory cannot be expected. The Japanese are said by some commentators not to be so well trained, equipped, or led as are the Germans, but are tougher foes, as individuals. In large-scale modern battles, the Japanese are not rated high, but they have given proof in the Pacific operations, of endurance, courage and refusal to surrender that should not be belittled. The Allies have had to pay a high price for some of their victories. Remembrance of this should check the wave of exaggerated optimism about conquering the Japanese that has been a feature of late in official comments. It is well to have cheerful expectations, but disappointment breeds war weariness, a danger that the Allies’ leaders must never overlook.

The enmity between the Japanese. Army and the Navy is relied on by some to weaken the enemy, . but such Service jealousy is common in all nations, and should not be over-estimated. The U.S.A, is not free from it, and there are reports of ill-feeling between the American Navy and Marines and the Army. More publicity is given by the Americans to such matters than is the British custom. The U.S.A. Press has featured some of the Service controversies, and several books have been published exalting, or otherwise, this and that leader. For example, General MacArthur. A. new book, “MacArthur and the War Against Japan,” by Frazier Hunt is being criticised in New York for painting “too perfect a picture.” One reviewer states: “Hunt would have you believe that MacArthur never makes a. mislake, that all his men love him, that in exposing himself to sniper-fire without a helmet—a punishable offence in a combat zone for any soldier —the general was doing a very great thing, and not a very foolish one, that all the campaigns in the Pacific except those under MacArthur were mere sideshows and diversions. There is too much laudation and too many omissions of unpleasant facts.” The “Herald Tribune” reviewing Joseph Driscoll’s book, “Pacific Victory, 1945,” says: “There is a frank description of the relations between General MacArthur and the Navy, and the situation is pretty avoll summed up merely by mentioning that the Navy’s name for MacArthur is 'God’s cousin.’ ” The “New York Times” says: “Several of Driscoll’s jibes and broadsides express the bitter animosity of the Navy and Marine Corps for General MacArthur, whose rhetorical communiques are slurs on naval power as compared with land and air power, lhe flamboyance of the General’s clothes and his mode of life caused widespread and serious ill-feeling in the Navy.” The Saipan incident (published to-day) in which a Marine commander dismissed an Army namesake because they differed on tactics is another instance of Service discoyd. Little in this lack of harmony need be regarded seriously, as in actual operations there would be complete co-operation. The same probably applies to Japanese Service reported disunities.