OFFENSIVE WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21548, 30 October 1944, Page 3

OFFENSIVE WAR

AMERICAN POLICY PRESIDENT SLATES CRITICS PLANNING” JUSTIFIED (10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. .00. "During the past year, the Americans have participated in 27 different landings on enemy-held shores. Furthermore. within the past five months, we have been able to carry out major operations in Europe and the Philippines, 13.000 miles apart,” said President Roosevelt, speaking at Philadelphia. Referring to operations in the Philippines. President Roosevelt said: “I wonder what has become of the recent suggestions that I tailed, tor political reasons, to send enough forces and supplies to General MacArthur. I realise that during a no tical campaign, some consider it impolite to mention that the war is going on. but the war is still on. Eleven million American fighting men know it and so do their families. In that war, I bear the responsibility which I can never shirk or never forget. From almost the first minute o my administration, we began rebuilding the navy, which had been whittled down during the previous Republican Administrations.” He outlined the increases in various branches of the armed forces that had been brought about in recent years. “Must Keep Enemy From Shores” “After the Japanese attacked us, Hitler and Mussolini declared war on us,” President Roosevelt added. “Some urged that we should go on the defensive, pull in the fleet to guard the continent and send no forces overseas. We rejected that policy. We cannot wage this war in a defensive spirit. As our power and resources are fully mobilised, we shall carry the attack against the enemy. We shall hit him and hit him again wherever and whenever we can reach him. We must keep him far from our shores because we are intent on bringing this battle to him on his own home grounds. “The war in Europe has now reached a decisive phase—the attack on Germany—but we have much longer and further to go in the war against Japan. All these operations had to be planned far in advance, and that does not mean drnwj " arrows on maps. The whole story of our vast effort in this war is a story of incredible achievement."