U.S. AIR POWER

Grey River Argus, 10 January 1944, Page 2

U.S. AIR POWER

Main Weapon Against Japan (Rec. 10.35) NEW YORK, Jan. 9. High Army and Navy officials told a semi-private conference of industrialists and labour leaders that air power plays a leading part in overall strategy for the defeat of Japan. They said America’s rapidly growing carrier strength will approximately be doubled within a few months, and nothing can stop a carrier offensive when it begins. General Holcomb, retired Marines Commandant, defended Pacific Island hopping. He said the Allies must converge on Japan from all directions, one of which lies along a chain of islands leading directly to Japan’s front door. The United Nations were going from island to island until the outskirts of Japan were finally reached, but certain amphibious operations were necessary in preparation for hitting J'apan’s greatest bastions. The Allies will take as many islands as they need with the least possible expenditure of men, time anfi material, he said. Vice-Admiral McCain, Deputy Chief of Naval Air Operations, said Colonel Knox’s recent statement that the United States had over forty carriers represented only a fraction of her potential strength.