BASES IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 5

BASES IN CHINA

ALLIED OBJECTIVE EARLY MOVES IN PACIFIC SURVEY BY ‘ COMMANDER WASHINGTON, (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) Feb. 9. The Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, Admiral Chester Nimitz, told a press conference at Pearl Harbour that his objective was to move ground and air forces across the Pacific and into China as early as possible. “In the last analysis I do not believe that we can defeat Japan from the sea alone.” he said. “ The Japanese can be defeated only from China bases because they draw food, iron and other supplies from Manchuria and China. While they have access to these supplies they will be difficult to beat. Furthermore, we want air bases in China from which to deliver air raids like those the Germans are receiving.” ... Asked whether the invasion of the Marshalls meant that the Pacific war was being pushed without waiting for the end of the European conflict, Admiral Nimitz replied: “This operation speaks for itself. It is evidence that we are not waiting for the end of the European war, but are pushing across the Pacific.”

Admiral Nimitz expressed the opinion that the American naval and air forces combined could take any Japanese position which was not defended by coastal guns big enough to keep the fleet away. The Japanese were greatly embarrassed by their lack of destroyers for escort and screening pierposes. Admiral Nimitz agreed that the Japanese air forces had definitely been weakened.

The Associated Press correspondent on board the flagship at Kwajalein said that Admiral Nimitz, after an inspection of the battle scenes with Lieuten-ant-general Robert Richardson, said the seizure of Kwajalein would definitely shortens the American communications in the South Pacific and the Southwest Pacific. Admiral Nimitz stressed that the major obstacle in the Pacific is not the Japanese so much as distance.