FIGHTING JAPAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24541, 25 March 1943, Page 3

FIGHTING JAPAN

AMERICAN OPINION'S, WORLD WAR CONSIDERATION NEW YORK, March 23 Some American Avar commentators are discussing an imminent offensive against Rabaul, and others; are emphasising the present strategic impracticability of such an offensive. A correspondent of the North American Newspaper Alliance says it is known that General G. C. Kenney, chief of the Allied air forces under General MacArthur, and Major-General Sutherland, Chief of Staff, contend that the Allied movement against Japan from Australia has gone as far as it can profitably be pressed. The generals explain, says the correspondent, that the successful operations in New Guinea and the Solomons have made Australia safe, but they are doubtful whether it would be advantageous to take Rabaul, or even to displace the Japanese from Lae and Salamaua, because, when rooted out of one spot, they simply turn up in another, and the job of expelling them from hundreds of Pacific islands would be endless. Recapture of Burma Both generals agree that the war against Japan must bo fought first by increased air and naval attacks against shipping, and, secondly, by retaking Burma and re-establishing communication with China. The correspondent adds that the British answer is that the recapture of Burma requires a major Allied fleet as well as increased supplies for the Far East. Therefore the key to the war against Japan is complete repossession of the Mediterranean in order to release British naval units to re-establish a short shipping route to the Far East. • The Chicago Tribune says editorially that the whole strategical picture of the war against Japan needs a complete overhauling of American lend-lease allocations if the Pacific front is not to be defaulted. "If assignments under lendlease were arranged proportionately to the urgencies of the threats to America's safety," it says, "the Pacific front's claim w far and away the most pressing." Madame Chiang's Rebuke Mr. Churchill's reiteration of the "Beat Hitler First" policy has drawn a rebuke from Madame Chiang Kaishek. After listening to his broadcast she revised the text of a speech she had prepared His statement that the full weight of the Allies would not be thrown against Japan until Germany was beaten, and that partial demobilisation would follow Hitler's defeat is reported to have caused her to interpolate into a speech which she delivered at the Chicago Stadium: "It is an easier thing to court the approbation of one's countrymen; it is a harder thing to speak according to the dictates of conscience. This is especially so when one's conscience tells one to prevent future destruction and carnage one must think not only in terms of one's country, but in terms of the good of other peoples." The New York Herald-Tribune correspondent comments: "This _ lastminute addition to Madame Chiang's address drew tumultuous applause from her Mid-West audience, who take a less academic view of the war against Japan than do the people in the Eastern States." POST RESIGNED MINISTER TO NEW ZEALAND GENERAL HURLEY'S NEW TASK (Heed. &.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. March 23 President Roosevelt has announced that Brigadier-General Patrick J. Hurley has resigned his post as United States Minister to New Zealand in order to take up duties as "Presidential general utility man" in the Middle East and Near East. General Hurley, in a letter to Mr. Roosevelt, expressing regret at the necessity for leaving his post, says: " I cannot refrain from expressing deep sentiments of the fellowship and

unity of ideals I experienced among the officials and people in New Zealand. As a people and a Dominion New Zealand lias never committed a crime. It has the fairest history of any English-speaking nation and, I think, any nation in the world. "In a century of existence New Zealand has always endeavoured to apply the golden rule to the solution of its problems. New Zealand's record is one to which English-speaking people throughout the world may justly point with pride." General Hurley was appointed first United States Minister to New Zealand in January, 19-12, and arrived in April. He paid a visit to Washington in August and, while he was there, it was announced that he had asked President Roosevelt to transfer him to combat duty, as he wanted a more active war role. On October 13 it was stated in Washington that ho would return to New Zealand. A message from Cairo on October 25 said he had,arrived in the Middle East on a mission for President Roosevelt. The next information came in a message from Moscow on November 4, which said he had arrived there by air from Africa. This was followed by a statement hy the United States Secretary of State, Air. Cordcll Hull, that General Hurley was returning to New Zealand as Minister and was travelling by way of Moscow and other capitals. His visits were not connected with matters of foreign policy but, according to a hint given by Mr. Hull, concerned other aspects of the war. • FEAR OF AIR RAIDS TOKIO WARNS JAPANESE (Reed. 0.50 p.m.) CHUNGKING. March 23 Broadcasts from Tokio continue to warn the people to expect air raids, also increasing submarine attacks on ping"American planes in China will be further strengthened; therefore the enemy hopes to carry out raids on Japan," said an announcer. "Chungking has many plane factories and field repair shops. We must realise the situation." KISKA AGAIN RAIDED WASHINGTON, March 23 Two groups of army Liberators and Mitchells, with fighter escort, attacked Japanese positions at Kiska vestcrda>, says a United States Navy Department communique. Except for one largo fire, results were not observed.