KNOTTY PROBLEMS

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 2

KNOTTY PROBLEMS

In Pacific Strategy NEW YORK, March 23. Some American war commentators are discussing an imminent offensive against Rabaul. Others are stressng tne present strategic impracticability of such an offensive. A correspondent of the North American Newspaper Alliance says: It is known that Generals Kenney and Sutherland contend that the Allied movement against the Japanese from Australia' has gone as far as it can pTbfiablvi be pressed. They explain, he adds, thlat the successful operations in New Guinea and the Solomons have made Australia safe, but they are doubtful whether it would be advantageous to take Rabaul or even displace the Japanese from Lae and Salamaua, because when rooted out of one spot the Japanese simply turn up in another, and the job of expelling them from the hundreds of Pacific Islands would be endless. Both Generals agree that the war against the Japanese must he fought llrstljs by increased air and naval attacks against shipping; and, secondly, by re-taking Burma and reestablishing communication with China. The correspondent, adds that the British answer is that the recapture of Burma requires a major Allied fleet as well as increased supplies for the Far East. Therefore, the key to the wiar against the Japanese is complete possession of the Mediterranean in order to release British naval units to re-establish a short shipping route to Hie Far East.

Pacific Front Claims EQUAL TO ANY NEW YORK, March 23. The “Gh’cago, Tribune” says editorially that the whole strategical picture qf tne war against Japan needs tne complete overhauling of American lend-lease allocations if the Pacific front is not to be ael'aultea. “If assignments under iease-lend were arranged proportionately to the urgencies of' the threats to America's •safety the Pacific front’s claim is far end away the most pressing,” says the paper.