UNITED STATES STIRRED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23588, 16 March 1942, Page 5

UNITED STATES STIRRED

Declaration By Mr Curtin AUSTRALIA’S STAND AGAINST JAPAN (Received March 15, 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 14. Mr J. Curtin’s sterling radio speech from Canberra came in with forceful clarity, in spite of seasonal static, which, indeed, seemed but to give electrical emphasis to his declaration that the “Australians are fighting mad.” ‘ As the Australian Minister to Washington (Mr R. G. Casey) said to-night, Mr Curtin’s inspiring message to the American people completely answered vicious and absurd rumours carried by the Vichy and Ankara radios that Japan and Australia will arrange a separate peace or armistice. There could be no misunderstanding where Australia stands after hearing the Prime Minister’s assurance that Australia is stripped for the .fight, and many Americans have already echoed Mr Curtin’s declaration: “There will always be an Australian people, the justice of whose cause throbs too deeply in their being for their high purpose to be overcome.” It is already evident that the vast majority of American people realise the importance to the United States that Mr Curtin’s fine affirmation on behalf of the Australian people must be met with the most effective practical response from the fighting forces of the United States. All New York newspapers and press services, as well as the ‘radio, are giving wide publicity to Mr Curtin’s speech, emphasising -his warning that if Australia falls the west coast of the United States will be the next invasion target of the Japanese. The “New York Times,” for example, prints the entire text of the speech. Although Mr Curtin spoke too late for editorial comment by the morning newspapers, a strong reaction can be expected in the afternoon editions. A Washington message says naval experts believe that, when the United Nations take the offensive, the main thrust will probably be westward- by way of the Japanese mandated islands and across Japan’s supply lines, rather than northward. They base their view on a statement by Vice-Admiral T. C. Hart, Commander of the United States Asiatic Fleet, that a flank attack is usually easier than a frontal attack. The Washington correspondent or the “Christian Science Monitpr” says: “There are significant indications that an important strategical decision has been made by the United States, with everything being prepared to smasn the Japanese invasion of Australia by an imminent offensive against weaklyheld Japanese outposts. It can now bo stated authoritatively that the flow of reinforcements to the South-west Pacific exceeds anything the average layman imagines and is going well beyond what even the most optimistic officials thought possible.”

PEACE RUMOURS DENIED

AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN “BEST LAUGH OF THE YEAR ” (Received March 15. 10.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 15. The Minister for the Army (Mr F. M Forde), commenting on foreign propaganda suggesting the possibility of peace negotiations between Japan and Australia, said that, besides providing the best laugh of the year it was obviously designed to divide the British people and the democracies He added: “All I need to say is that Australia is an indissoluble part of the British Empire.” He was quoting an Ankara radio report that. as a result of the speech by the Japanese Prime Minister (General Toio) advising Australia to change hei attitude unless she wished to suffer the fate of the Netherlands East Indies, -rumours had arisen that negotiations were proceeding between Japan and Australia, which, however, were not confirmed from Tokyo. Russians Promise Vengeance.—A promise that Russian pilots will avenge the sons of Lady Macßobert. who were killed while flying in Russia, is obtained in the newspaper “Izveslia. Lady Macßobert gave £20,000 for four Macßobert fighters to operate on fronts where they would be helping Russia.—Rugby, March 15.