ATTITUDE OF U.S. TO WAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23538, 16 January 1942, Page 5

ATTITUDE OF U.S. TO WAR

Statement by Navy Secretary

DENUNCIATION BY CHINESE

(Received January 15, 11,15 p.m.) (U.P.A.) NEW YORK, January 14. Sixteen leading Chinese organisations in New York telegraphed' Mr Roosevelt denouncing the statement made by Colonel Frank Knox. Secretary of the United States Navy, that Hitler must be defeated before Japan, and that therefore full-scale action by the United States Fleet in the Pacific could not be expected shortly. They begged the President not to commit the disastrous blunder of following such a policy, and they gave a warning that there was a limit to Chinese patience. "A spirit of deep dissatisfaction is growing in China,” the organisations said. "Either we are fighting a common war or we are not. To discriminate between our enemies will bring disunity into the ranks of the Allies.” The Chinese press to-day severely criticised the conduct of the Pacific war and declared that signs of British and American reinforcements in the Far East were lacking. The “Sao Tang-Pao,” the Chinese Army organ, said that the British authorities in Malaya had shown themselves wanting both in vision and determination. Both Colonel Knox and Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A. V. Alexander) were criticised for urging the Allies to strike at Hitler first. The “Sao Tang-Pao” contended that if Japan was allowed to take Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies it would be easier said than done for Britain and America to start a counter-offensive.

The Government newspaper. *‘Ta Kung-Pao” urged Russia to strike before Japan is ready to attack Vladivostok. If Japan takes Vladivostok she can easily threaten Alaska and make the entire Pacific a veritable Japanese lake. The official “Central Daily News’’ urged the Allies to crush Japan first, “Unless something really strong is done to annihilate Japan now there will be a danger of the Japanese using their resources and the strategic bases of the southern Pacific for a long war,” it said.

A cable message published on Wednesday said that Colonel Knox, addressing a conference of mayors, said that an early clash between the American and Japanese navies was unlikely. "I would not be frank with you.” he said, “if I led you to believe that I expect the favourable and dramatic development of ‘riumphant American full-scale naval engagements in the Pacific in the near future. The elements of d'slance and time and the necessarily wide distribution of our naval forces preclude an early conclusive showdown with the Japanese navy, but I do not mean to imply that the Pacific Fleet is idle.

“You will hear from it again and again when and where careful strategic considerations dictate. “We will suffer other reverses besides our severe losses at Pearl Harbour. The task of the British and American Navies is the maintenance of their effective fighting strength in all the seas.”

Colonel Knox emphasised that the chief enemy was Germany, and he added that ag soon as Hitler's Germany was destroyed the whole Axis fabric would collapse.

COMMANDERS IN PACIFIC

ARRIVAL IN DUTCH INDIES

NETHERLANDS WARSHIPS FOR ALLIES

LONDON, January 14,

The Allied Commander-in-Chief in the south-western Pacific (General Sir Archibald Wavoll) has arrived in the Netherlands East Indies with his staff to establish his headquarters. The Commander-in-Chief of the Allied naval forces (Admiral T. C, Marti is already there, and Major-General George Brett, Deputy-Commander-in-Chiof, is reported to have accompanied General Wavcll, Thus the three chiefs of the defence of the Pacific are together for the first time in their new sphere of operations. General Wavcll was given an enthusiastic welcome. A Batavia newspaper said that General Wavell was not credited with possessing magical powers to turn the enemy back. He was regarded as an ordinary man, and as a brilliant strategist and an inspired leader.

The newspaper added that the Dutch did not spare criticism of their Allies or their friends, but the time for criticism was past, and they would go forward with complete confidence in the commander.

The Lieutenant Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies (Dr. H. J. van Mook) has arrived in Washington to di.-cuss relations between the United States and the Netherlands East Indies. It is expected that the talks will begin immediately, Netherlands quarters in London have announced that Surabaya has been transformed into a formidable stronghold and that Netherlands warships are to be placed at the disposal of the Allied command in the Pacific. Netherlands quarters in London point out that the Allies’ choice of the East Indies as the site of- General Wavcll’s headquarters showed that the Allies were of opinion that the Netherlands Archipelago is valuable, not only as a source of war material, but as a barrier to enemy commerce raiders which might strike against vital Australian and New Zealand shipping lines in the Indian Ocean. U.S. and Australia

At bis press conference in Washington to-day. Mr Roosevelt, asked if Australian Army and Navy officers would come to Washington, said that he expected that Army and Navy men would be coming and going from all the united nations. He explained that the officers would not necessarily be there all at the same time, or stay permanently. . Asked if the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. Curtin) or any other high figure would be coming from Australia. Mr Roosevelt disclaimed knowledge of it, , ~ Asked what plan there was for direct contacts between the United States and Australia, Mr Roosevelt replied that he had had direct contact with Australia from the beginning of the crisis. He appeared surprised that anything new should be suggested, and said that he had discussed with the Federal Minister (Mr R. G. Casey) this morning the same type of problems he had been discussing with him since December 7. Asked if this meant the defences of the south-west Pacific, Mr Roosevelt replied that it meant the defence of the democracies of the world. Dangerous Experiment When, the body becomes heated in warm weather, serious chills can easily follow. Don't neglect a cold in summer and don’t experiment with this and that. Take Baxters Lung Preserver at once. "Baxters” is the proved cough remedy with the tonic »ction. Get better, get "Baxters.” —fi