JAPAN’S DEFENCES

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1944, Page 3

JAPAN’S DEFENCES

PHILIPPINES AND FORMOSA NEW YORK, Feb. 23. The German Trans-Ocean Agency reported from Manila that a state ot siege has been declared throughout the Philippines. , The Tokio official radio announced that the Filipino. National Assembly granted Jose Laures speepine: P°Y’ ers to enable the Government to maintain and enforce its .authority, and also to take the measures necessary for the safety and protection of its population. The Tokio radio also announced that as a precaution against Allied invasion of Formosa, Emperor Hirohito has approved the establishment of special headquarters for the Formosan troops, with the Formosan Governor, Admiral Kiyoshi, as Com-mander-in-Chief.

Empty Boast

— BY JAP ADMIRAL (Rec. 12.30) LONDON, Feb. 24. Admiral Takahashi, former Com-mander-in-Chief of the Japanese Fleet, in a speech, quoted by Tokio radio said: “When the Allied Navy approaches farther into the Japanese defences, our Navy will deal it the most spectacular coup de grace in Ihe world’s naval history. He added: "We may have ample time to seize Australia after the enemy fleet h’als been sent; ho a watery grave.” JAPAN VULNERABLE NEW YORK, Feb. 23. Officials at the headquarters of the 14th. Air Force in China estimate that destruction comparable with with which the Allies have wrought in western Europe could be achieved against Japan with only 10 percent. of the plane strength and bomb weight, says the Associated Press correspondent. .Information here, however, suggests contradiction of the popular belief that Tokio itself could readily be destroyed. .It is pointed out that Tokio is a modern city. Much of the western-style construction is unlikely- to burst easily. Moreover, Japan’s war potential cannot be broken by attacks on Tokio. The situation .requires attacks .against centres of heavy industry like Kobe and Osaka, where flimsy construction provides an ideal target for incendiaries and block-bust-ers.

General Chennault stated that the Allies neej only 10 per cent, of the European air force strength against J'.apan. He added that Japan’s industrial machine and army will collapse easily if Allied fliers in China can knock out the enemy shipping lanes in the South China Sea and the Yangtse River, and the railways in Northern China.

COLONEL KNOX'S COMMENTS. WASHINGTON, Feb', 22. Pointing out that Admiral Nimitz favours attacks against the China coast, Colonel Knox (Navy Secretary) remarked: “We are learning in Italy that beach-heads are no joke. They, may prove pretty costly in China.’ 1 ’ Colonel Knox compared the Japanese strategy with that of the Russo-Japanese war, which began with a Japanese sneak attack on Port Arthur, similar to the Pearl Plarbour raid, after which the Japanese waited until the Russian fleet extended itself far from its bases then launched a successful all-out attack. “However,” said Colonel Knox, “the American fleet won’t meet the Russian fate.” The removal of the Japanese High Command was an unmist’akaifie sign of confusion among enemies, and an acknowledgement that their campaign against us had been a failure. Colonel Knox, estimated that Japanese shipping losses in the first three weeks of February were ninety-two combat and non combat craft, including two light cruisers, four destroyers, one seaplane tender, and seven other war craft. A cruiser was' nrobably sunk. Seventy-eight non-pomba't draft, including seven fleet tankers, and three transports were sunk.

Warning against over-optimism arising from the Truk attack Colonel Knox said: We are still operating on intermediate defences and have not yet entered the inner defences of the Japanese Empire. Also we have still to beat a big fanatically braced well-equipped army. During the period United States losses were only two submarines.