AUSTRALIAN WAR NEEDS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23715, 13 August 1942, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN WAR NEEDS

—■* DIVERTED SUPPLIES BEING REPLACED

(N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, August 12. Some of the war supplies diverted from Australia have already been replaced, a Government spokesman declared to-day. Australia’s loss from the lag was only temporary and she is now receiving those supplies agreed on among the United Nations when the Minister of External Affair’s (Dr. H. V. Evatt) was abroad. The supplies included valuable raw materials ,as well as aeroplanes, tanks, and other finished weapons of war. “Australia is stronger at this moment than ever before in her history,” said the spokesman. Criticism of the war supply position may result in another Federal Minister making a munitions tour abroad. The Minister of Supply (Mr J. A. Beasley) has been mentioned. Commenting on statements by the Deputy-Leader of the Federal Opposition (Mr W. M. Hughes), which resulted in revelations of restricted American aid, the “Sydney Morning Herald,” in a leading article, states: “He has told the Japanese nothing they did not know. On the other hand, he did his utmost to check their further progress by awakening Australia to a sense of its peril arising from the enemy approach on Port Moresby. In this he has succeeded, and the nation will thank him for his candour. There has been, as Mr Hughes contends, too much secrecy of an unnecessary kind regarding the conduct of the war operations on this side of the Pacific.”