PLAN TO ATTACK JAPAN

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22189, 8 November 1943, Page 2

PLAN TO ATTACK JAPAN

President’s Roosevelt’s statement that Britain, the United States and China have reached an agreement upon “continental” joint operations against Japan will be received with interest by the peoples of Pacific countries, who have been becoming impatient because of the long delay in operations in Burma, Malaya or China. It was expected that the campaign in Burma would be renewed when the monsoon ended. Certainly the aerial attack has been increased, but there has been no sign of land or naval activity. The possible explanation is that plans for south-east Asia were recast some time ago when the formation of the separate command was decided. The appointment of Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten and an imposing staff probably indicated a new and far more comprehensive scheme for the relief of Burma, Malaya and China and the main attack against the new Japanese empire. The defeat of Japan will require the employment of a vast amount of manpower. In a central position in China are millions of men who in six years of war against Japan have been hampered by lack of equipment. Therefore it is clearly to the great advantage of the United Nations to re-establish contact with China by land and sea at the earliest possible moment and to pour into China arms and equipment that will enable the Chinese to meet their enemy on equal terms. Defeat the Japanese in China and their overseas empire will fall to pieces; Japan itself will be brought within range of the Allied air forces. The announcement made by Mr Churchill has been awaited patiently by China ever since Japan entered the war. It is to be hoped she will not have long to wait for fulfilment of the promise.