Last Land Barrier To Philippines’ Back-door

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1944, Page 3

Last Land Barrier To Philippines’ Back-door

WASHINGTON, May 21

Military observers believe that after the capture of Wakde Island, the Allies will be ready to invade Halmahera, Dutch East Indies—last major land barrier to the back door of the Philippines, says the United Press. Wakde Island will provide an excellent air base from which to subject Halmahera to steady aerial attack. The threat to Halmahera means that all the Dutch East Indies must be kept alert for Allied attacks which may come from any direction. Halmahera is regarded as the most strategically located of all Japaneseheld islands in the South-West Pacific. Military analysists expect the Japanese to put up a more determined fight to retain it than any of the bases at present under attack. It is therefore expected that the operation against Halahera will necessitate the greatest concentration of amphibious forces yet collected in the Pacific. “Broad strategy in the Pacific aims at isolating the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies by a drive straight across the Central Pacific to the shores of China,” said Vice-Admiral John Greenslade, in a speech at San Francisco. “General MacArthur will continue moving westward .along the fringe of Dutch possessions. Meanwhile, Admiral Nimitz will drive straight across the Pacific and eventually, without the immediate necessity of clearing the Dutch East Indies, we may be able to support the Chinese effort by direct contact with the Eastern Asiatic mainland.

“Once ashore in China the Allies will join the Chinese in the concluding phase of mainland operations, while our fleets close in and impose an impenetrable blockade of Japan.”