uropean front as a more urgent situation. General Eisenhower’s team saw the Pacific theatre as merely a defensive task. Their opinion was that the Japanese would attack the oil rich Indies and stop at that. Eisenhower was quoted as stating, “We’ve got to go to Europe and fight, We’ve got to quit wasting resources all over the world- and still worse- wasting time.”(Frank pg.9) Soon the Navy sent Marine reinforcements to strengthen Samoa. The Army then sent 1500 troops to Canton Island and 2000 troops to Christmas Island, both part of the Atolls island chain. Admiral King then decided to establish a refueling base at Bora-Bora to support the vast number of troops deployed on various islands. When 17000 men were sent to New Caledonia, the Army began to feel it’s first strains on it’s resources. However, the Navy still demanded more island strong points in the Pacific. The Army insisted that no more than the minimum number of islands be secured and that none should receive more than the minimum garrison required to defend it. This buildup was partly due to the British prediction that the Japanese would next target the Fiji and New Caledonia islands.Debate slowly started to lean in favor of Admiral King’s campaign to expand efforts in the South Pacific. In late January President Roosevelt sent troops to defend New Zealand and Australia at their request, followed by the carrier battle group centered around the Lexington. The most serious threat at hand was still the defense of the pacific sea-lanes and on February 15th the Yorktown battle group was sent to the pacific theatre as well.Dor Brown 3Even though military leaders were still somewhat cautious at this time, the Average American, despite Hitler’s threat, regarded Japan with distrust, Hatred, and fear and would not tolerate a policy of Idleness in the Pacific theatre after Pearl Harbor. The plight of the pacific region w...
