THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25237, 28 May 1943, Page 2

THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC

In the course of his to Washington with the undisguised purpose of impressing the need for the use of an increase in the numbers of the Allied forces in the South-west Pacific, the Australian Minister for i External Affairs, Dr Evatt, made the point that the “ beat Hitler first ” policy was purely strategic. It did not mean, he argued in effect, that the Western end of the Axis presented the greater threat to the world, but that the present circumstances in the strategy of a world-wide war favoured a concentration upon Germany and her satellites until the United Nations had strength to spare for Japan. Dr Evatt questioned the higher wisdom of this strategic conception, as the Government of the Commonwealth has consistently done, obviously with the informed support of the American service chiefs in the AustralianNew Zealand theatre of war. Mr Churchill’s statements, at a press conference at Washington on Tuesday of this week, suggest that the proposition so ably argued by Mr Curtin and his Cabinet has found support at last in exalted quarters. The position to-day, Mr Churchill declared, is that the Allies have so expanded their forces that “ we are talking of waging war with equal force on both fronts.” With the men and munitions available, said Mr Churchill the word “ munitions ” being no doubt used in a very comprehensive sense—it had become possible to apply a great deal of effort simultaneously in both directions. With President Roosevelt he gave a specific assurance that the war in the Pacific would be intensively carried on by the United Nations. This is the most certain and unequivocal, declaration upon Allied plans in the war against Japan that has yet been received, from an authoritative source. For very good reason it will be.,welcomed throughout the United Nations with great satisfaction, even with relief, and nowhere more warmly than in Aus-

tralia and New Zealand. Coupled with the remarks of Admiral Hali sey’s deputy, Admiral Wilkinson, upon the success of the Allied campaign against the Japanese in the South Pacific area—that including the Solomons, with New Zealand as an operational base—Mr Churchill’s interview confirms the recent feeling of greater physical security which the people of this Dominion have been enjoying. While, as Admiral Wilkinson says, the enemy, using his interior lines, could with some ease concentrate upon this area temporarily superior forces to any opposing him the ultimate benefit of such a show of force could be small, while,the risks would be very great. The possibility of nuisance raids cannot be discounted, however, and ocean marauders will, no doubt, continue to operate in Tasman waters and their vicinity. The people in Ne\y Zealand will not be so unreasonable as to expect the Allied leaders to keep them informed of every accretion of strerigth to the Pacific theatre, and to disclose their strategy. The intimations which have been given at Washington both verbally and by demonstration—the presence there of the Allied service chiefs from the Pacific front and also from India and China carries its , own message—are a sufficient guarantee that the war in the Pacific is not to be allowed to become the forgotten war, but is to receive its full share of the huge strength which the Allies are now bending to their will.