JAPAN’S HOPES

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21907, 10 December 1942, Page 3

JAPAN’S HOPES

FINAL KEY TO VICTORY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Dec. 9 The Tokio official radio says the Italian and German naval attaches called on the Naval Minister, Shimado, and the Naval Chief, Nagana, and congratulated them on the Japanese Navy’s glorious results in the past year and hoped for additional victories. Shimado replied that the Japanese successes were partly due to the Italian and German work in Europe. He hoped even greater liaison would speed up the enemy’s destruction. The army press chief, Captain Yahagi, in a broadcast to Japanese, complained that the Japanese lacked fighting spirit, which he regretted very much. "America believes she will win if the war is a long one,” he said. “A protracted war means a succession of great battles. The Solomons Is a battle to decide the fate of the war. The battleground is too far from Japan, so the people do not feel we are fighting ruch a decisive battle.” Naokichi Horikawa said propaganda was the final key to victory, Japan was convinced she would conquer in propaganda warfare. Japanese propaganda endeavoured to utilise the enemy’s psychology, and they were using the weapon of broadcasting as effectively as the aeroplane and the battleship.