An explanation of the background to the War in the Far East and of its probable strategic development, founded entirely on a commentary illustrated by film of a large map of the Pacific on which points are demonstrated, occasionally by animation, more usually by a man working in front of the camera.

Background: Japan's economic motivations for aggressions (of which Pearl Harbor "was not the first"); the strategic situation in the Pacific, bases and outposts: Japan's dependence on imported raw materials, the blocking of which in 1941, following the invasion of Indo-China, led into the war. The likely course of the war: blockade by the Allies with the advantages of strong bases (especially Singapore) but hampered by their remoteness from home and each other; Japan (believed to have stockpiled a year's war material) will seek to counter-blockade and to break the Allied blockade; the consequent importance to the Allies of Chinese resistance (supported by the Burma Road) holding down Japanese troops; hopeful mention of Russian presence in Vladivostok.

Notes

Remarks: the primitive technique works surprisingly well in this interesting and reasonably accurate forecast; only the hope for Russian aid and the confidence in Singapore really provide grounds for critical hindsight. Compare "Alert in the East" (COI 122).

Documentation/associated material: extra credits from DNL