JAPS TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15239, 4 January 1943, Page 3

JAPS TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES

TERRIBLE LOSSES IN P ACM FIG. United Press Assn. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, Jan. 3. The New York Times’ Washington correspondent, Charles Hurd, says: “Although 20,000 Japanese soldiers in the Solomons area are virtually rendered impotent behind the American air and sea blockade and the losses in men and planes in New Guinea and also the disastrous naval losses have severely weakened hei strength, Japan i* still redoubtable for she is developing her conquered resources, Also, according to reliable intelligence, she possesses a large reservoir of shipping that shims not yet hazarded in the war zones. “It is difficult as things stand for an Allied force to approach 'Hide tected within 2000 miles of the Japanese Empire from the sea. Therefore the question must be asked . Why is Japan willing to make tre- : mendous sacrifices to defend the .Solomons and New Guinea whole has already lost a hundred thousaii-i men and 1000 planes? It would be logical to assume that the Japanese commander would withdraw hi. hard-pressed outermost flanks an.l tighten his Lines in preparation foi renewed attacks against the Allies, but the Japanese do not hold this theory. This ha* often been noted as peculiarity of their military nmiu and it holds th«* prospect for the Allies that it may save ns the tremendous cost involved in an outright invasion of Japan by permitting herself to be destroyed on the perfmeto ol her defences. If our fortunes coi tinue as in the past few months, this is not impossible.”