"That Heavy Rumbling"

Two battle leaders in the Pacific stated in no uncertain terms last week that the U.S. had swung from the defensive to the offensive against Japan.

Major General Willis H. Hale, commander of the Army's Seventh Air Force, based on Oahu, said that the raid on Wake was just a rehearsal. "We can continue to do that in the future," he said.

"There are probably at least a dozen Japanese bases that we can hit from central Pacific islands, and the Japs will have great difficulty retaliating."

In the South Pacific Admiral William Halsey was less specific tactically but more specifically tactless. In an interview reported by A.P.'s J. Norman Lodge he said:

"Here are a few messages I wish you would send to Japan for me.

"To Hirohito: 'As Emperor and leader of traitorous and brutal Japan during the years of her foul attacks on peaceful peoples, your time is short.' "To Tojo: 'When you unleashed your cowardly attack on Dec. 7, you started something you can't finish.' "To Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Fleet, who predicted that he would make peace in the White House (see p. 60): 'You will be present at the peace if you are still alive. That peace will be in the White House, but the White House will not be as you en visaged.' "To the Japanese people: 'That heavy rumbling you hear now will gradually grow into a shock of bursting bombs, the shrieking of shells and the clashing of swords on your own soil.' "

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