JAPAN’S STRONG 'ARMY

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1944, Page 5

JAPAN’S STRONG 'ARMY

No Short-cut to Victory “NOW 'A CONTINENTAL POWER” SAYS MACARTHUR. ■ (Rec. 9.50) SYDNEY, Feb. 17. General MacArthur addressing war correspondents discussed recent successes in the South-west -Pacinc. in which he said, a blockade ana bombing had played a great part. He stated: Japan has become a great Continental Power and sne couLi not be defeated through blockade and bombing alone. Japans greatest potential is on the l a ”°> rather than on the sea or in tne an. Her strongest military element s the army, which must be before success is assured. Blockaae and bombing alone are both powerful weapons, but in modern wax - fare decisive results can be achieved only by the combined forces of tne •army, and naval and air action, it is useless and misleading to .talk or short-cuts. They do not exist. It is the team-work of a united ana well-balanced command, used as a unit, and not a preponderonce of any one element, that is essential to victory. Just as is the case witn Germany, we defeat Japans army. Our strategy must devise ways and means to bring our ground forces into contact with the enemy at decisive points. The old concept of Japan as predominantly a maritime nation, based upon her .island empire, is no longer factual. With her immense holdings on the Asiatic Continent, Manchuria. Korea. and Northern China, to say nothing of her southern mainland conquests, she has become intrinsically, a Continental power. Her outlying islands of the Pacific represent an outpost position. This is important, it is true, but no longer decisive.