Longer and Further to go In War Against Japan

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 257, 30 October 1944, Page 5

Longer and Further to go In War Against Japan

Received Sunday, 6.50 p.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 28. “During the past year, Americans participated in 27 different landings on enemy-held shores. Furthermore, within the past five months, we have been able to carry out major operations in Europe and the Philippines, 13,000 miles apart,** said President Roosevelt, speaking at Philadelphia. Referring to the operations in the Philippines, the President said: *‘2 wonder what has become of recent sug gestions that I failed for political reasons to send enough forces and supplies to MacArthur?

“I realise that during a political campaign some consider it impolite to mention that a war i 3 going on, hut the war is still on. Eleven million American fighting men know it. So do their families. In that war I bear a responsibility which I can never shirk or never forget. From almost the first minute of my Administration we began rebuilding the Navy which was whittled down during a previous Republican Administration.” He outlined the increases in the various branches of the armed forces in recent years, and continued: “After the Japanese attacked us Hitler and Mussolini declared war on us. Some urged that we go on the defensive, pull in our fleet, guard the Continent and send no forces overseas. “We rejected that policy. We cannot wage this war in a defensive spirit. As our power resources are fully mobilised we shall carry the attack against the enemy. We shall hit him and hit him again wherever and whenever we can reach him. We must keep him far from our shores because we intend to bring this battle to him on his own home grounds. ‘ ‘ The war in Europe has now reached the decisive phase—the attack on Germany—but we have much longer and further to go in the war against Japan. All theso operations had to he planned far in advance, and that does not mean drawing arrows on maps. The whole story of our vast effort in this war is a story of incredible achievement.*’