RISKS INVOLVED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23714, 12 August 1942, Page 3

RISKS INVOLVED

“CRITICAL DAY FOR AUSTRALIA ” PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT (Received August 11, 5 p.m.) (N.Z.P.A.) MELBOURNE, August 11. The Prime Munster oi Australia (Mr J. Curtin) told the State Premiers’ Conference that there was a great deal of risk for Australia in th" battle now proceeding in the Solomon Islands. “This is one of the many days that can be described as a critical day for Australia,” he said. “To lose this battle of our own seeking would be to invite further attack from the arrogant Nipponese,” writes the war correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald.’’ “To win it would be only the first of many agonising steps before we could hope to place the enemy back where he belongs.” American suggestions that a second front has been opened in the Pacific are regarded as “altogether too sweeping.” “If every Japanese was turned out of the Solomon Islands, . from Guadalcanal' in the south to Buka in the north, it does not follow ' that

Rabaul would be in danger of falling,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald.” “and their considerable base at Rabaul would need to be captured before the Japanese could be said to be checkmated on this front.” The second front suggestions are further discounted by the correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” at General' MacArthur’s Headquarters, who writes: “Forget those pipe-dreams of any grand-scale South-west Pacific offensive against the Japanese. Those ‘Back home via Tokyo’ signs which pilots paint on their aeroplanes in the far north are valuable only as camouflage colourings. “The offensive needs a fleet of modern aircraft, not only in the war theatre but rolling off the assembly line. It needs an armada of vessels and a high-powered naval force to convoy them. It needs aircraft carriers, a submarine fleet, and a powerful and fully-equipped'invading army. Above all, it needs a public will to accept the enormous losses of men and materials. We have many of these requirements, but not nearly enough.” Commenting that “too much must not be expected too quickly," the “Sun,” in a leading article, says: “If this operation is crowned with success and Japan loses control of the Solomon Islands, with all their facilities for air and submarine bases from which to harry the east coast of this continent, the victory will be worth the losses. It will break any legend which may be fostered throughout Asia and in Japan concerning the invincibility of Japanese arms. It will be the beginning of a reverse process which in time will recover the Japanese conquests. It will give some immediate relief against Japanese threats to New Guinea and the east coast of Australia.” NEW GUINEA LAND FIGHTING JAPANESE FORCED TO WITHDRAW LONDON, August 11. Allied land forces in New Guinea have been engaged in the biggest attack since the fighting at Kokoda began. An Allied Headquarters communique states that the Japanese have been forced to withdraw from prepared positions and the Allied forces have recovered an important position. New Zealander Wins D.S.O.—The Distinguished Service Order has been awarded to Squadron Leader A. Ashworth. D.F.C.. of Alexandra. He was one of the airmen met by Mr Nash last week at a British aerodrome.—London, August 10. French Hostages Executed.—NinetyJ three French hostages have been exe--1 cuted following a series of attacks on Germans in various parts of occupied France.—London, August 10.