THE NOME NUGGET j
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Playing With Death And Disaster
The sea battle north of Java, which occurred be-:
tween February 27th and March 1st. illustrates and
re-emphasizes the deadliness of naval engagements
insofar as the weaker side is concerned.
This was the lesson of the German victory at Coro
nel and the Falkland Islands in 1914. In both of these
battles, the superior squadrons escaped almost with-:
out damage but the inferior fleets were practically
annihilated.
The Java battle found five Allied cruisers and some
destroyers fighting a suicide engagement to prevent
the landing of Japanese troops upon the island of Java.
The Japanese force included at least nine cruiser*
and a large number of destroyers.
Beginning on a Friday afternoon, off the northeast
coast of Java, the fighting ranged to the west, with the
Dutch Admiral making determined efforts to get
around the Japanese warships in order to locate and, if
possible, destroy troop-carrying transports. In this, he
was not successful because of the superior speed of
Japanese cruisers and, in the end, the five cruisers of
the Allied forces were destroyed.
Facing overwhelming odds, with the fiOO-mile coast
line of Java between them and the Indian Ocean and
with the Japanese fleet in control of the straits at both
ends of the island, the Allied cruisers were doomed
before the battle began unless they managed to escape
in the darkness.
The outcome of the Java engagment illustrates the
danger of offensive action under circumstances which
almost preclude success. It was courageous to attack
heavier Japanese forces but the sacrifice of ships did
not prevent the successful invasion of the island.
This engagement explains and justifies a slow and
cautious sea policy, including retreat before superior
forces, combined with such harassment as may be pos
sible. To the enemy. To attack an enemy at a place of
his choosing, and against great odds in a sea battle is
one way of playing with death and disaster.
—Juneau Empire.
itussm's Dilemma, and Ours
Russia celebrated the first anniversary of the Jap
anese-Russian neutrality pact recently with blasts
at Japan.
Pravda, organ of the Central Committee of the Com
munist party, printed a warning on the “blabbering”
in Japanese “military and Fascist cliques” about war,
and invasion in the north.
One should not regard this as a build-up for a Soviet
attack on Japan. It is often said in this country that,
the Russian base of Vladivostok is only 650 miles;
from Tokyo. It's just as true that Tokyo is only 650 j
miles from Vladivostok.
This raises the point: “whether the United Nations!
want Russia to establish a second front against Japan
right now.
Russia undoubtedly would be forced to withdraw!
many divisions from her battle with Germany to meet
a Japanese invasion; Hitler might be able to resume
his march on Moscow, knock Russia out of the war,
and then turn his full strength against Britain.
Russia’s value to us might be weakened by a two
front war, just as our value to Britain was weakened'
by Japan’s attack on us.
While we now have troops in the British Isles, it
seems certain that we have been forced to divert to
the Far East supplies and forces that otherwise might
have gone to the Middle East.
On the other hand, Russia must know that sooner or
later Japan will strike at Vladivostok, situated at the
geographical center of the Japanese Empire.
The question is one of timing. The strategy is one
of smashing Hitler first, if possible, then turning full
United Nations power against Japan.
— Philadelphia Record.
From our boys in Australia comes the story of the
kangaroo which, after pausing several times to scratch
her stomach, yanked two baby kangaroos from her
pouch and thrashed them soundly for eating crackers
in bed.
Japan will soon learn that the underhand isn’t quick
or than the eye.
One thing’s certain in this uncertain age—tomorrow
won’t be the same as yesterday.
Our office boy calls his girl friend “Sugar” because
she’s hard to get.
I,
Russians Given 30-30 Chance Hold
Out Against Germans This Summer
WASHINGTON—When Harry Hopkins and Averell
Harriman arrived in Russia several months ago. one
thing Stalin told them was that he didn’t want any
American observers at the front. “Our regime is dif
ferent from yours,"’ Stalin said in egect. ” 1 know you
have foreign observers and newspapermen at the front,
but we run things differently. So please don’t ask us
for this.”
Therefore, at no time have American or British ob
servers been on the Russian front. A few U. S. officers
have made trips behind the lines, but only for a short
time. This is why U. S. official knowledge of the exact
condition of the Russian army is either second-hand;
or deduction.
However, according to the best sources available,!
here is an approximate estimate of Russia’s strength
and her chances of holding out against Germany this;
spring and summer. The picture is neither black nori
white. It is mixed.
First, it is an inescapable fact that the German re
treat during the winter was not so important as gen
erally featured in Moscow cables. Actually, the Nazis;
executed a brilliant maneuver in straightening their
lines, and an examination of the map shows that their
retreat was not very substantial.
However, the Russian Army has shown itself to be
of much tougher stuff than anyone expected. Its man
power seems unlimited. Morale is high, while German
morale is reported poor, with troops tired and depend
ing on Bulgaria, Hungary, Rumania and Italy.
Russia’s great lack is tanks and airplanes. These1
have been going from the United States and England
as fast as we can ship them—but not fast enough. On I
the other hand, the Russians have a good supply of:
small arms and machine guns.
Therefore, Russian chances against the Germans
ought to be about fifty-fifty—perhaps even better in
the extreme south where they will be aided by the
steep mountain peaks of the Caucasus.
Worry Over Near East
What worries Allied strategists is the prospect of a
Nazi push against the British in the near East—simul
taneous with a drive against South Russia.
British troops unfortunately have not stood up well1
against von Rommel in Libya. At one time he was re
duced to only thirty tanks, and if the British were not
able to wipe him out then, things don’t look too optim
istic for the future.
Another black cloud is the possibility of German
naval activity in the Mediterranean. U. S. strategists
consider it a distinct possibility that the big Nazi bat
tleships. some of which escaped from Brest this win
ter, may make a dash into the Mediterranean. There,
uniting with the Italian fleet and part or all of the
French fleet, they would stage a terrific bombardment
of Egypt, Syria and Palestine, and so blast through
the gateways to the oil fields of Persio and Mesopo
tamia. This would open the way to an advance on Rus-j
| sia from the South. (
This prospective blow at the Near East is the big
| gest blow of all. However, balance! against this, is'
Hitler’s own worry over a Bnitish-U. S. invasion of«
Europe or North Africa, plus the tremendous supplies(
j we are delivering both to Russia and Egypt. So the;
picture is mixed, with only one things sure: Hitler!
has got to win this summer or he is finished.
I,'Washington Merry-Go-Round” by Drew Pearson, Robert S. Allen j
I
L 0 N C , LONG WAY S—United States influence is appar
ent in "hot dofi” stand at Capetown, South Africa.
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The British announced they had fallen back to new
positions (1), north of Thayetmyo and Allanmye, with
Jap forces continuing pressure up the Irrawaddy River
on the one hand and northeastward up the Sinjok val
ley on the other. Main oil area around Minbu was sub
ject of British defense and object of Jap attack.