TREADING ON JAPANESE TOES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 26 November 1943, Page 4

TREADING ON JAPANESE TOES

THREE hundred and fifty-six years ago Francis Drake “singed the King of Spain’s beard,” an exploit which consisted of forcing a way into Cadiz harbour and burning upwards of 10,000 tons of Spanish shipping, thus postponing till the following year the Armada’s disastrous move against England. Because royal tonsureseven in the palace of the “Son of Heaven”—have changed, as well as naval warfare, Drake’s picturesque Elizabethan expression is scarcely appropriate to describe Admiral Nimitz’s successful but more orthodox thrust into the Gilbert Islands, though both actions have the same flavour about them. Perhaps Nimitz might more aptly be described as ‘‘treading on the Emperor’s toes.” The Japanese will not like this, especially as the stubbing has been done along one of the roads to Tokio which, Admiral Nimitz believes, those travelling the China route will reach first.

To the question, “Where to from the Gilberts?” he is non-committal except to say “wherever the Japanese are”. Now that a central breach has been opened in their island defences he is taunting them to play their trump aard. Tokio official radio claims that the Japanese Navy welcomes a showdown so—at least in word—there are two master naval minds in the Pacific with but a single thought. Island gains have to be consolidated and it may be some time before the Americans are ready for another bound to the next island stepping stones. Though their toes are trodden on, the Japanese will endure the pain as long as possible and are likely to stage counter-measures for which Admiral Nimitz is prepared. He has some submarines “which are like little liver pills, working while you sleep” among enemy shipping and taking heavy toll. Japanese persistency is costing them much in merchant tonnage and—as the news to-day demonstrates—in destroyers. They know the Gilberts are on the road to the Marshalls and Carolines and thus realise what their loss entails. This would have to be rated very high in Japan’s strategy before she would commit her fleet to action in an attempt to prevent further springboards being established.