WAR IN THE PACIFIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 31, 16 November 1943, Page 4

WAR IN THE PACIFIC.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. TRIBUTE BY AMERICAN ’ ADMIRAL. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright. k (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 15.' No Allied supply ships have been lost in the Pacific during the last six months as a result of enemy action, said Rear-Admiral W. B. Young (Chief of the United States Navy Bureau of Supplies), referring to the difficulties of supplying scattered bases in tlie Pacific. Admiral Young drew attention to the lack of harbours and quays for unloading supplies, which at many places had to be transported ashore in small boats. He paid a tribute to New Zealand and Australia for adapting their industries to meet the demands of the United States forces in the area". Australia and New Zealand were supplying the American Fleet in the Pacific with tremendous quantities of fresh vegetables and meat and by do. ing so have largely helped to solve some of the problems of America.

The Admiral said: “By supplying the United States -with fresh meat and vegetables, Australia and New Zealand save the United States a long haul across the Pacific. The Australians have also been very cooperative in developing new lines of industry. They learned to bone beef, and pack it by hydraulic methods.” Air transport, added tlie Admiral, was going to play a very great part in supplying the fleet. America was building planes which could carry SOOO pounds. The Americans had developed new styles of packing’ and compressing dehydrated food to eliminate weight. Declaring that the supply problem in the Pacific had been solved, the Admiral said that enough supplies Were reaching tlie area to mount a large-scale att’ack on the Japanese.

Tlie Admiral has just returned from a 24,000-mile tour of the Pacific and South Pacific areas, including Australia and New Zealand, to investigate the speed and efficiency with which naval supplies are reaching fighting forces there.