THE UNITED STATES CHIEFS OF STAFF had considered whether additional
shipping could be provided by cuttingdown the programme of reinforcements toHawaii, but there
was little to be obtained in that way, as urgent reinforcements had already been diverted to
Christmas and .Canton Islands, and to Samoa. The present programme of shipments of men and
materiel across the Pacific would take three months, the situation being what it was. Should not
the priorities over the next few weeks be weighed, w. ith a view of deciding whether the
reinforcement of ABDA could be accelerated by diverting ships from other projects, such as the
moves to Iceland andNorthern Ireland, and operation Super-Gymnast?
 
                MARSHAL DILL suggested that the best way of tackling the problem would be for the
shipping experts to get together  consider total tonnage available, and see what sort of a
programme could be drawn up.
 
                ADMIRAL STARK asked whether Singapore was in immediate danger, and how long
it might be expected to hold out.
 
               MARSHAL DILL said that it would-be a race between the arrival of reinforcements,
and the progress of the Japanese. If the projected reinforcements'arrived, there seemed no reason
why Singapore should .not hold out indefinitely. A risk had had to be taken in moving the
Australian Division from the Mersing Area Over to the Northwestern front, but one Indian
Brigade Group had already arrived, and a British Brigade Group and 51 Hurricanes were due to
arrive on 13th January.
 
               ADMIRAL STARK thought that if there were a chance that the race could be won, it
would be worth while doing anything possible to hasten the arrival of reinforcements, and to build
up the position as quickly as possible. If Singapore and the Philippines were captured by the
Japanese, they would be free to bring their whole weight to bear on the Netherlands East Indies.
 
               GENERAL MARSHAlL said that already the Japanese could move troops from the
Philippines and use them for other purposes, and, in his opinion, certain indications pointed to
their already being in process of doing so.
 
                AIR CHIEF MARSHAI PORTAL said that it would certainly be a great waste of
materiel if aircraft reinforcements were poured into the ABDA Area without the necessary ground
staff to operate and maintain them. He felt that before a decision was taken to sacrifice the North
Atlantic move in order to provide ships for the Pacific moves, it would be well worth while
holding a general review of the shipping situation. This might reveal other resources which would
enable us to carry on with both projects. It should be borne in mind that the move of United
States troops to Northern Ireland and Iceland was part of a chain of movements extending
through the Middle East to the Far East; and he would be reluctant to see it abandoned.
 
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