“THINGS TO COME”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20744, 20 April 1942, Page 3

“THINGS TO COME”

PROMISEJTO JAPAN AMERICAN AIR BLOWS CONGRESS HEADS ELATED (11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 19. The capital is greatly elated by the reports of the bombing of Tokio, which, according to general opinion, indicates that the Allies took the initiative against the Japanese. The chairman of the Congressional Military Affairs Committee, Mr. May, who last week predicted that Tokio would be bombed shortly, told reporters: “It is the beginning of a general offensive against Japan.” Mr. C. A. Vinson-, chairman of the House of Representatives Naval Affairs Committee, expressed the opinion to the press that the bombing “indicates that the Allies have started an offensive.” The House of Representatives majority leader, Mr. McCormack, said: “From now on the Japanese can expect to bfe at the receiving end.” Many Bombings Before July The chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. Mr. Snyder, said: “I predicted in January that Tokio would be bombed before May. I now predict that it will be bombed from many quarters before July.” The New York Times, in a leader, says: “The successful attack made by American bombers on the great cities of Tokio, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya is a forecast of things to come.- It is proof that our long-range striking power in the Pacific is rapidly increasing. It warrants the hope for believing that the day is not greatly distant when we can carry the attack in force to the heart of the Japanese Empire, using not only seaplanes based on carriers, but land planes based in Alaska, China and ultimately Siberia itself.

“In these attacks, we will doubtless destroy as we have already destroyed, much civilian property. It is an unhappy business, but it is a necessary business for it is inescapably part of total war, and we cannot shrink from giving the heaviest blows we can deliver. "Better Next Time” The enthusiasm of the Chinese population following the raids on Tokio was indescribable. Theatres interrupted their performances and announced the news to cheering audiences. The newspapers had a record circulation. Though the Chinese habitually ignore Japanese broadcasts, thousands excitedly listened to the Tokio radio.

The Chungking correspondent of the United Press reports (hat the news of the bombing of Tokio caused rejoicing in Chungking. The populace of the city was thrown into the greatest uproar and excitement since the outbreak of the war. A Chungking message states that the Chinese Chief of Staff, General Ho Ying-Chin, commenting on the Tokio raids, said: “It will be even better next time. The raids on Tokio are only the beginning, but the Japanese will soon experience bombings similar to their attacks on China.” The Associated Press correspondent at Chungking learns authoritatively that the raids against Japan were not made from Chinese bases.