The Waikato Times MONDAY, MAY 25, 1942 JAPANESE "FOLLY”

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21737, 25 May 1942, Page 2

The Waikato Times MONDAY, MAY 25, 1942 JAPANESE "FOLLY”

General Smuts, who is regarded as one of the Empire's most observant soldiers and statesmen, has reiterated the opinion which he has expressed ever since Japan declared war, that the Japanese “ will not stay the course very long ” —that the declaration of war against Britain and the United States was the greatest act of national folly committed in recent times. Few people doubt that General Smuts is correct in his estimation of Japan’s ‘folly, but not all will agree that Japan is likely to collapse very early. The Allies have still to stop the enemy's advance and then to drive him back, and there is still ao reason to suppose that that will be the work of a brief period. Aggressive confidence is admirable and desirable but it should not degenerate into easy optimism. Let there be no mistake that Japan is powerful and ambitious and still hopeful of becoming the ruling Power in the Pacific Ocean and perhaps in the Indian Ocean as well. Nevertheless it is true that Japan’s doom is gradually being shaped by the awakening might of Britain and the United States. Damaging blows have been struck against the Allies in a succession of losses all down the eastern coast of Asia. At sea also they have

suffered unexpected losses. But in the process Japan also has been losing men and ships, and the important point is that she cannot afford the losses as well as can the Allies. Her building capacity is deficient, and that is Japan’s greatest misfortune. The war is a stern process of attrition in which the nations with the greatest resources of materials and construction capacity will triumph 'in the end. The only hope Japan ever had of winning was to over-run the Allies in their great centres of production before their war industries got fully into their stride. Japan failed as Germany failed, and now must fight it out from the losing side. The sinking of another heavy Japanese cruiser and two large transports is part of the long process of attrition which is expected eventually to reduce the Japanese Navy to a condition of inferiority. It is believed Japan has already lost 15 of her 35 cruisers in five months of war. That would be tolerable if victory were in sight, but the Japanese must know that the real war lies ahead. It can be imagined that General Tojo is ordering his forces with one eye on the struggle in Europe and the other on his dwindling naval resources in opposition to Allied power that is gradually being marshalled. If he has complete faith in Hitler he may still favour his chances in the Pacific, but the great gamble is reaching a crisis. As General Smuts says, Japan is fighting well and is still a redoubtable enemy, but has undertaken a job which is beyond her powers. She will cause frightful damage before going under.