Big Blows Planned to Smash Japan

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 206, 31 August 1943, Page 5

Big Blows Planned to Smash Japan

Development of Five Strategic Points (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 29. “Huge naval task forces with a spearhead of carrier-based aircraft are poising for new piledriver blows against the enemy in the Pacific," declared Vice-Admiral John McCain, DeputyChief of Naval Aviaticn. Elaborating this statement, the United States Navy Department disclosed that approximately a dozen new combat aircraft-carriers have been launched since Pearl Harbour in addition to an undisclosed number oi “baby flat-tops," which will help to smash the Japanese to complete defeat. The Navy Department spokesman added that 27,500 naval bombing, fighting and cargo planes will be in service by the end of the year to operate from these carriers and from naval land bases. The navy is training 30,000 pilots annually and building 200 lighter-than-air ships. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that, following the Quebec Conference, Pacific wai strategy will probably develop as follows: (1) General MacArthur’s painful but punishingly successful campaign will continue, since its keeps 200,000 of the enemy engaged or on guard and reduces Japan’s outer defence bases and grinds down her air and naval strengths. (2) When the Japanese New Guinea and Rabaul defences crumble, the conflict will spread to the Indies and the Philippines under General MacArthur’s direction. (3) An amphibious operation under naval direction sooner or later will be undertaken against Truk, the main Japanese base in the Central Pacific. (4) Lord Louis Mountbatten will Lead a big push through Burma when he assembles the huge army and invasion fleet necessary to ensure overwhelming superiority. (5) With the Aleutians again in American hands, Japan must watch for air and sea stabs from the north, particularly against her Kurile bases.