WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 296, 21 April 1941, Page 7

WAR TOPICS

by The Beacon Watchman

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NAVAL BASES

SHIPS AT HAWAII Australian, New Zealand and Canradian warships Avill soon be repairing and refuelling at United States bases, Royal Gunnison, a special representative at Honolulu, of the North American Newspaper Alliance, learns from an authoritative source. Under the Lend or Lease Act, he saj's, this will be done not only at the Pearl Harbour base, alongside most of the UnjtedSyfe££& Fleet, but at other stations. This authority said that the broad scope of the United States defence expansion, including all shipping facilities, in the Pacific operating to and from Hawaiian headquarters, was now seen as under orders for full steam ahead. Mr Gunnison adds that it is expected that residents of Hawaii will soon be accustomed to seeing the Dutch ensign and Union Jack as frequently as they see the Stars and •Stripes. Dutch destroyers have been convoying merchantmen from the Indies and across the Pacific within a few hundred miles of Hawaii and the Panama Canal. Those coming north will stop at Honolulu for refuelling and, those going to the Canal are not expected to go all the way without refuelling.

BIG ORDER "SHOUTED" FOR FLEET Mr. Oscar H. O'Brien, of Coolong Road. Vauclu'se, • Sydney, had notices posted on units of the visiting American Fleet offering free drinks for all personnel from 11 a.m. until noon at the Hotel Carlton, one day during their visit. His hospitality was accepted by many members of the fleet. "I don't care how much it costs," he said, "as long as these 'Macs' have a good time. Mr O'Brien, who has given £3000 to the Red Cross within the Inst three months, first communicated 'hi? offer to the American Consulate. An officer of the Fleet Avas present. Notices Avere posteu announcing Mr O'Brien's wishes. "Boy, Avas there a scramble to get off," said one visitor. "It's a great city, and this is the kind of swell hospitality Ave've had since we've been here. "Look at Bozo o\ r er there. Can he sink it doAvn the hatch! I would not like to pay for -what he can drink in an hour!" Assuming that the average American sailor could drink six pints in an hour, Mr O'Brien's total liability could haA r e been £375. About 1500 men were allowed morning leave.

JARABUB FORT BOREDOM BRINGS "VICTORIES" During the siege, the Italians in Jarabub often fired off their ammunition to relieve the boredom, then announced to Rome that they had beaten off an attack, says tho Cairo correspondent oi' the Daily Telegraph. In Italy the "failure" of the British to capture the place was hailed us an enic feat of resistance against, odds. The correspondent emphasises that no attack was made on Jarahub before the operation which resulted in its capture. The Imperial troops just waited for the surrender of the hungry Italians, who ate every donkey and camel in Jarabub. The Italians realised that General Wavell did not want to damage the Senussi holy places; so they put their headquarters in a mosque, parked their motor transport all round it and camped among the shrines. Many Italians, says the correspondent, had deserted, knowing they only had to walk out to the British lines to get a square meal. The Italian commander, Colonel Costiana, a strict disciplinarian, kept the remainder of the garrison (800) under control by his fierce determination. After a siege that lasted fifteen weeks, Jarabub, which is 200 miles south of Solium (Libya), fell to Australian and British troops.