SUPPLIES FOR AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23942, 8 May 1943, Page 5

SUPPLIES FOR AUSTRALIA

DR. EVATT’S MISSION AIRCRAFT TO COUNTER JAPANESE PLANS (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 7. “If the danger to Australia is as great as Dr. H. V. Evatt would lead the American public to believe—and even the Australian public is mystified about the position—then the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin) should immediately go 1o Washington." This statement was made by Mr J. P, Abbott, a prominent Commonwealth Opposition member, who has accused Dr. Evatt, Australian Minister of External Affairs, now in Washington, of creating bad feeling between the United States Government and the Commonwealth. Mr Abbott said there had been no published complaint from New Zealand about the flow of war supplies into the southern Pacific area. The tone of Mr Abbott’s statement is not in accord with the published opinions of Australian war observers in the south-west Pacific or those writing from the United States. Correspondents in Washington have emphasised the happy personal relations existing between Dr. Evatt and leading members of both the United States Government civil and service administrations as being an important factor in securing a sympathetic hearing of Australia’s case for increased war sup • plies. The “Sydney Morning Herald's” Washington correspondent to-day quotes a high American Government official as saying that from nbw on a “substantial number” of aircraft will go to the south-west Pacific. He added that Dr. Evatt’s mission had been responsible for a considerable modification of the conditions under which an increased air allotment was promised to the south-west Pacific Air Commander (Lieutenant-General G. C. Kenney), who recently visited Washington. Main Fleet Not Yet in Action

American naval authorities arc said to agree with Australian opinion that Japan’s naval striking power in the Pacific has not been seriously weakened, and that her main battle fleet has virtually not yet been seen in action. However, a lack of repair and replacement facilities for merchant shipping is considered to be a limited factor in Japanese plans. "There is considerable optimism in some American sources concerning the progress of the war against Japan.” writes an Australian, "but this optimism is not shared by all observers."

In spite of the comparative lull in the south-west Pacific, war observers here are generally agreed that danger signals are still flying. Among these are intermittent heavy Japanese air raids in the North and the submarine drive off the eastern Australian coast recently announced by General MacArthur, “These moves,” says the "Syd ney Morning Herald” in a leading article to-day. "are concentrated on clearing abundant air strips in the islands and building up a strong air fleet, obviously as part of a concerted plan. Japanese strategy is essentially offensive. Offensive action won them a rich empire and a strong position from which to defend it. It seems incredible that with their main fighting power still' unimpaired they will be content to stand passively along their perimeter and not hit out from bases equally suited to pffence or defence. “These shrewd.'tenacious enemies, no less than ourselves. have learned

AUSTRALIAN SPITFIRE LEADER

WING COMMANDER' CALDWELL (Rec. 11.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May f. Wing Commander Clive Caldwell, Australia’s greatest fighter ace, it is revealed, has been in action several times against Japanese aircraft in the Darwin area. He led the Spitfires which first went into action over Australian territory on March 2, and himself shot down two enemy aircraft, bringing the number of his official “kills” to 22J. These were his first “kills” while operating from his home soil. Wing Commander Caldwell, who holds the D.F.C. and Bar and a Polish decoration, is the sole surviving member of the famous original Australian Squadron Spitfire team, which also included the Irishman Wing Commander Brendan Finucane and Squadron Leaders K. B. Truscott and ThoroldSmith.

U.S. COAL MINES DISPUTE

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE (Rec. 11.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May T. When the War Labour Board began hearings in the coal dispute, representatives of the mine-owners attended, but the United Mineworkers’ Association ignored the board’s invitation to appear. Mr John L. Lewis, president of the association, has alleged that the board is prejudiced against the miners. The "New York Times” says the conflict between the miners and the administration has become a war of nerves. Mr Lewis maintaining a silence at union headquarters, and the Secretary of Interior (Mr Harold L. Ickes) likewise making no move to facilitate an agreement as the union apparently expected. Union leaders have intimated that if an agreement is not reached during the 13 days’ truce the mines will come to a standstill again on May 18. A union spokesman said to-day that the union would refuse to recognise any findings of the War Labour Board. Meanwhile the union and the owners are continuing negotiations at New York.

the lesion of land-based air power. They have found they cannot move their naval forces and transports without control of the skies. Hence they have concentrated on clearing abundant air strips: in the islands and building up a strong air fleet which can be moved rapidly round the arc. “Intensified submarine warfare to interrupt the flow of supplies to Australia is the logical complement of this design. To allow the Japanese to gain command of the air in the southern Pacific is to invite a repetition of last year’s disaster. The struggle of coming months in this theatre will more than over be a struggle for aerial supremacy, and the initiative in sea and land attack will rest with the winner. Australia needs the promised aircraft.”