BARBARIANS' PROGRESS
HE Japanese have now established themselves on New Guinea,
T
the last of the great islands that lie between Asia and Australia. They hold commanding bases between two oceans and two continents, and may pursue their way westwards across the Indian Ocean towards India and Africa, or southwards against Australia—or both. The general expectation in Australia is that her territory is the next enemy objective. And indeed it can hardly be otherwise, for it is thither that powerful American convoys, too late to bring help to Malaya or Java, have been making their way by several routes, bringing troops and aero- planes complete with ground-staff and equipment. The Japanese can scarcely allow these forces to accumulate unmolested, for
is from Australia that the Allied counter-attack will be delivered. They believe in getting in their blows first and choosing their battle-ground. The. Australian view is that the Lpanese will pursue the tactics they have adopted so successfully hitherto—that of consolidating supply-bases in the rear, capturing air-fields and establishing new bases in the vicinity, and so on from stepping-stone to stepping-stone. But they are now up against a far more formidable proposition than any that has yet confronted them. Before them lies a continent having vast empty 'paces or country inhabited by indomitable people very unlike the native populatioris of Malaya and the Indies. Also they will have to face the main forces of Australia and a powerful army 2nd air-force of Americans, not without strong naval support on the sea-approaches. Add to this the lengthening lines of com- munications, becoming more vulnerable as they advance. Since American help is at last assuming important dimensions, and will increase steadily, there are reasons for expecting successful resistance, and perhaps at no very distant time the beginning of an offensive.
