The Conquest of Saipan
The conquest of the island of Saipan is a significant achievement in the now rapid offensive which the Americans are pressing against the Japanese in the Pacific. It was made possible in the first place by the decisive victory of Admiral Spruance between Saipan and the Philippines, which gave the Americans command of the sea and the air in these waters. But even so it required a powerful combined force to effect a landing on Saipan, which was strongly garrisoned and heavily fortified, and after the landing there was prolonged and obstinate fighting costly both to the attackers and the attacked before the last of the 30,000 defenders had been destroyed or captured. Saipan now constitutes an advanced outpost in the direction of Tokyo itself (1,47o miles distant), and with its excellent air-field affords a base from which long-distance bombers may attack either Japan or the Philippines. We see that the Americans have reached a stage in the Pacific War when they have progressed far beyond the earlier phases when it seemed that they might have to proceed slowly and laboriously from one hard-won island to another. Now, with superior fleets provided with superior air-craft carriers and aeroplanes, they have been able to attack distant objectives and essential Japanese bases, leaving in their rear islands whose garrisons have been cut off frckm supplies and isolated tike those pockets of resistance behind the lines which the Russians mop up at their leisure. The Americans have command of the seas up to Saipan, which may now be regarded is a strong point in their advanced front line. In another directiol the more gradual successes in New Guinea won by Americans and Australians together po!nt a spear- head in the direction of the Dutch East Indies.
