Long Road Ahead In Pacific War

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 210, 5 September 1944, Page 5

Long Road Ahead In Pacific War

Eeceived Monday, 8.30 p.m. NEW YOEK, Sept. 4. General Harmon’s statement on the strength of Japan shows that the war against Japan has not yet reached the “end of the teginning,” says the New York Times’ Pearl Harbour correspondent. “Admiral Nimitz’s amphibious operations for the next few months will still be preparatory moveß. Besides lacking large land areas for bomber bases for 1000-plane raids, we still do not possess a Western Pacific Fleet base of major potentialities. Guam and Saipan, though destined for development on a surprising scale, are physically unsuited for firstclass harbour facilities. “Another factor likely to prolong the Pacific war is the Japanese stubborn tenacity. Paris was liberated while the Nazis still occupied some of the buildings, but thus far in the Pacific the Japanese in comparable position have kept on fighting. Few Japanese ever emerge from blasted buildings. There would be bullets whistling in Pariß today if the Japanese were there. There, fore, the belief is that final victory will be won at great cost in individual engagements. “Our swift conquests in the Central Pacific were not impeded by air opposition and the ground leadership we may expect elsewhere. The Japanese commanders in the Central Pacific displayed tactical judgment unworthy of their men who were ordered to fight to the death.”