BIG WAR GOING ON

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 5

BIG WAR GOING ON

AIR AND SEA MOVES Australian Tribute To Help Given By America N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. noon. LONDON, Feb. 10. Few people in Britain have realised the significance of the navalair war in the South-west Pacific, said Captain J. A. Collins, formerly in command of H.M.A.S. Sydney. He is waiting to take over command of the cruiser Shropshire, which the Royal Navy has given to Australia to replace H.M.A.S. Canberra, lost in the Solomons.

Captain Collins said: "There is a big war going on in the Pacific. The Coral Sea, Midway and various Solomons engagements were big battles measured by any standard and had far-reaching results." He described the "extraordinary set-up" under which Australia placed the entire operational control of its military, naval and air resources in the hands of the United States, but he said the arrangement was working like a charm. The secret of the success of the set-up could probably be found in the high regard of the Australians for America. "Australians will never forget that America sent aircraftcarriers and cruisers to the Coral Sea and saved Australia from invasion. "I don't think Australia is yet completely removed from the possibility of invasion," he added. "There is much fighting ahead. We must proceed carefully and must be ready to meet any new thrusts against Australia and be ready to push back age.inst Japan."