Greymouth Evening Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1944. NEARER TOKIO.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1944. NEARER TOKIO.

MacArthur’s return to the Philippines overshadows other war news, although on other fronts there has been important and satisfactory progress. Special interest is centred on the success at Leyte, as it is the first major piercing of the Japanese inner ring of defences and must be the forerunner of the enemy’s ultimate defeat. So far, the landings have been easier than expected with American casualties small,- but this good fortune may not continue. The absence of the Japanese navy and the little activity by Japanese aircraft, so near to home waters, is difficult to understand, except on the assumption that the enemy simply has not adequate forces at his disposal, and. he is running no risk of major disaster, meanwhile. However, whilst the Japanese are conserving planes and ships, the Allies are concentrating huge numbers of both, and in the decisive encounter when it occurs, should have overwhelming victory.

Warnings are given that the Japanese in defence of their own country may be expected to fight to the last, but they have done that hitherto, without escaping defeat. Since the U.S.A, push started, there has been a. succession of American victories, and it is difficult to believe that tin* enemy can now stage a come-back. The British fleet, planes and troops are reinforcing the Americans, which makes Hie Japanese outlook hopeless. The fact that fake reports of a Japanese naval victory and heavy loss of U.S.A, ships were sent out by the Tokio radio, and supported by claims of the Japanese Premier, is evidence of the weakness of the Japanese, for the propaganda value of such falsehoods either at home or abroad, cannot be enduring. True, the Japanese are making gains in Southern China, and this will add to the Anglo-U.S.A. task, but it may be assumed that the Allies’ strategy will be devised to meet existing conditions. The Japanese may not be able to hold their recent gains from the Chinese, and, in any case, they are being defeated and harassed in Burma.-

• The Avar has gone further from the shores of Netv Zealand, and now it is difficult to realise the dangers escaped only two years ago. The report of the executions at Tarawa of twenty-two Whites, of whom seventeen were New Zealanders, will arouse indignation, and should also increase the resolve to take measures that will prevent the Japanese ever being in a position again to threaten ihis country and its people Avith similar atrocities. It is reported that the Japanese commander responsible for the Taratva murders, Avas himself killed soon afterwards in legitimate Avarfare, but this does not close the Tara Ava tragedy. Retribution for this, and numerous similar outrages by the Japanese, is justly due, and there must be no “forgive and forget” nonsense about the peace terms to be made on the Japanese. Precaution for the future as well as vengeance for the past, demands that Japan must he deprived of her power for mischief. “ War-Aveariness” among the Allies is now the enemy’s best hope of saving something from the Avreckage, and this “weariness” takes various forms. Among these is leaving the task of completing the victory to the other felloAV, reluctance to share the necessary occupation of Japanese territory and generally acting as if the Avar is noA\ r of little concern to those lands noAv free from peril of Japanese invasion. New Zealand, for example, must not only remember Tarawa, but also her oavu danger about the same time, and the debt she oavcs to those who came to her rescue.