Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1942. PERIL IN THE PACIFIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 89, 26 January 1942, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1942. PERIL IN THE PACIFIC.

The Australian War Cabinet has sent an urgent appeal to Britain and the United States for assistance in meeting the imminent threat to the safety of the Commonwealth. It is no time now for recounting the mistake of a couple of decades ago that enabled Japan to acquire bases from which such an attack may be conveniently made or for recalling any possible shortcomings in Australia’s altitude toward defence preparations. The one thing that matters is that the country is in jeopardy, and any menace to it must mean a serious threat to vital sea communications. With Singapore in enemy hands or beleaguered, Sumatra may well fall to the enemy, his forces will penetrate Burma still further, and our control of the Indian Ocean will be menaced. Enemy submarines are already operating off Sumatra. The worse the situation in the Far East becomes, the greater the peril in the Indian Ocean and the greater the danger to shipping carrying supplies and reinforcements both to Suez and the Persian Gulf. In stressing the vital necessity of stopping the Japanese march, Australia ana New Zealand are not unmindful of their own shortcomings. Far less are they unmindful of the sacrifices already made by Britain in her fight to save the world. The Australian plea for assistance comes at a moment when conditions elsewhere are more favourable for prompt response than at any other period of the war. The mantle of winter is now over Europe. By far the main German forces are locked in deadly embrace with the Russians. Von Rommel is held in Libya. For months there has been a mounting tide of armament production in Great Britain, Canada -»*»d the United States. Now the world’s treasure house of raw materials —Malaya and the Dutch East Indies —is invaded or in jeopardy. The very sea over which our ships travel with precious cargoes to Iran to maintain the Russians is menaced from Penang, from Tavoy in Burma, and still the menace grows. The prize of the Far Eastern, battle is not the Pacific alone. The master of the Indian Ocean will control the Middle East and threaten the foundations of Allied victory. The diversion of men, arms and aeroplanes by Britain and the United State is necessary to avert a major crisis in the war. The position holds a warning for New Zealand. If we are to be ready to play our part as members of the British race, relying on our own resources as far as our small population permits, every action that hinders the national effort must be avoided. Every civilian, just as well as the serviceman, must play his full part, not only in the more direct operations for defence and safety but also in everyday occupations.