U.S. CARRIER STRENGTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 10 January 1944, Page 2

U.S. CARRIER STRENGTH

USE AGAINST J/YPAN New York, Jan. 9. Air power plays a leading part in the overall strategy for the defeat of Japan. High army and navy officials told a semi-private conference of industrialists and labour leaders that America s rapidly growing carrier strength will be approximately doubled within a few months. Nothing can stop the carrier offensive when it begins. General Holcomb, letired Marines Commandant, defended Pacific island hopping. He said the Allies must converge on Japan from all directions, one of which lies along the chain of islands leading directly to Japan’s front door. The United Nations were going from island to island until the outskirts of Japan were finally reached, but certain amphibious operations would be necessary in preparation for hitting Japan’s greatest bastions. The Allies would take as many islands as they needed with the least possible expenditure of men, time and material. Vice-Admiral McCain, Deputy Chief of Naval and Air operations,' said Col. Knox’s recent statement that the United States had over 40 carriers, represented only a fraction of the potential carrier strength.