WHAT IS JAPAN’S NEXT MOVE?

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22473, 7 January 1943, Page 2

WHAT IS JAPAN’S NEXT MOVE?

“To Retreat,” Replies Admiral Halsey

Confidence In Future

(N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. Interviewed at Auckland during the visit he has just made to New Zealand, the Commander-in-C'hief of the South Pacific area, Admiral William Halsey, stood confidently to his recently cabled prediction of a complete Allied victory in 1943. “That is right!” he said, when Captain S. D. Jupp, Senior United States Navy officer, read the cabled message to him. “Wc have 363 days left to fulfil my prediction and we are going to do it,” Admiral Halsey continued. “I envisage that if these beasts are going to be made to give in. they are going to be attacked from all directions. They will be attacked from the mainland of China and from the Pacific Ocean. They are going to be made to wish they had died when they were all babies.” “Low Monkeys!” Questioned whether he was satisfied with the progress of operations against the Japanese, he replied: “We have their measure in the air, on and under the water, and on land. When we first started out against them I held that one of our men was equal to three Japanese. I have now increased this to 20. They are not supermen, although they try to make us believe that they are. They are just low monkeys, and I say ‘monkeys’ because I cannot say what I would like to call them. Japanese Atrocities Referring to the atrocities he had mentioned in his recently cabled statement, Admiral Halsey said: “There is plenty of evidence. We have it and the atrocities will be properly repaid.” Of the atrocities in the combat in the Solomons he said: “The most frequent atrocity is perpetrated when an American sailor, soldier or airman, out of his humanity, tries to aid a Japanese who is either wounded or trying to seem wounded. The way the Japanese meets this kindness with a hand grenade is right in line with their apish or bestial instincts, use which word you like.” Asked whether the Japanese naval tactics were difficult to meet, Admiral Halsey said: “Like everything else about them they are tricky, but not too hard to fathom. There is nothing to be worried about in their tactics. Any normal naval officer can beat them and lick them.” “What do you expect the Japanese next move will be?” Admiral Halsey was asked.—“ Japan’s next move will be to retreat,” he said. “A start has been made to make them retreat. They will not be able to stop going back.” Asked by a reporter if he agreed that the Allies in the Pacific were in a much different position than they were a year ago. Admiral Halsey said: “I’ll say we are in a different position. Full use has been made of the time since we began to move forward. Questioned whether the forces in the combat area under his command were now confident of the future, Admiral Halsey characteristically said: “I w’ould not say that they were now confident. There is a feeling of continuing confidence ! ’ ’