NEW STRATEGY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 56, 7 March 1942, Page 5

NEW STRATEGY

PACIFIC WAR AREA ROOSEVELT CONFERENCE CHINESE OFFENSIVE ON ( JAPAN (By Telegraph—Free. Asaueiation —Copyright.l (Reed, y.b p.m.) Wasmngion, iviarcn 5. President Roosevelt neld a threehour conterence with representatives of the British and American Btatt Councils, including Mr. Henry Stimson, General Marsnall, and Admiral King, Sir John Dill, Sir Charles Little, Air-Marshal Evill, General Wemyss and Commander Coleridge. The New York Times says the President called the conference in order to devise the new strategy necessitated s by the fear that Japan may attack Australia and India. Netherlands East Indies officials at e Washington point out that an addi- " tional hundred planes from the Allies 1 would have turned the tide to the Netherlands East Indies battle. ] They add that aeroplane shipments - from America to the Far East have 1 been ample in the past few days but ' were very unsatisfactory earlier. Piny ' further point out that only the un- - satisfactory influx of aeroplanes from the Allies has prevented China hitherto from an attack against Japan. The New York Herald-Tribune also ascribes to Mr. Roosevelt’s conference major importance and says the measures discussed give cause to expect an early land oflensive and air attack against Japan from China. The HeraldTribune interprets Dr. Van Mook's . statement, "an attack can be expected ! from another side,” as meaning that ' the Chinese Army is receiving sub- > stantial aid with a view to establishing s a crushing anti-Japanese offensive by I combined Chinese, British and Ameri- ■ can forces. “FROM ANOTHER SIDE” ATTACK ON JAPANESE ' EXPECTED (Recd. 7.5 p.m.) Bandoeng, March 6. “The Allies have not abandoned us. ■ On the contrary, an attack against the ■ enemy from another side is to be exI peeled at any moment,” said Dr. Van 1 Mook, Lieut. Governor-General of • the Netherlands East Indies, when > addressing the People’s Council. He urged the population to emulate i General MacArthur and concentrate ' on the defence of certain areas which i were particularly suitable for defence.