BLOCKADE OF JAPAN

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22514, 24 November 1944, Page 2

BLOCKADE OF JAPAN

The naval blockade of Japan has begun, said Vice-Admiral J. S.’ McCain, deputy-chief of naval air operations, aboard his aircraftcarrier flagship in Philippines waters. This is bad news for Japan, for of all the countries at war Japan is the most susceptible to the effects of a blockade. Until United States forces crashed into the bases between the Philippines and Japan a close blockade could not be applied. Allied submarines have been taking a constant toll of enemy shipping ever since the war began, but they had to operate from very distant bases, and with thousands of miles of ocean in which to sail the Japanese merchant marine could maintain a service of supplies. Now the Allies have closed in to within striking distance and aircraft carrier and land-based aircraft can join the submarines in the hunting of enemy shif>s. Japan is vulnerable because she must ship from abroad a very large percentage of her essential materials. Her home industries without a constant supply of raw materials carried by sea cannot maintain a full-scale war effort. If heed is taken of the dire results of the submarine blockade of Britain, even though she had incomparable anti-submarine armaments and the experience of two wars to aid her, the possible disaster to Japan of a thorough blockade can be appreciated. Japan cannot hope to match the anti-submarine services of Britain and the United States, nor can her air fordfes hope to equal the strength, , in land-based and carrier aircraft, that can be brought to bear by the Allies. Blockade may become as great a terror to the Japanese as the steadily advancing naval and military might of the Allies.