PLANES DUMPED INTO SEA

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24736, 29 November 1945, Page 5

PLANES DUMPED INTO SEA

AMERICANS ABANDON EQUIPMENT

DESTRUCTION AT ISLAND

BASES

(Hec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 28. "The Americans are abandoning Pacific island bases and are dumping into the sea, or burning, millions of pounds' worth of gear," says a correspondent cabling from Rabaul. '-Some of it is being sold to whoever can take it away, but this is what Australian . officers have seen . passing through the Admiralties, Biak, Saidor, r inschhafen,"" Jacquinot Bay, Nadzab and Lae:—

'The Admiralties: Two hundred Hellcat fighters (many still crated) dumped into the sea.

"Finschhafen: Complete dental- outfit.-; in the sea, big pontoons loaded with jeeps putting to sea with a bulldozer on board to push them off, mobile radio outfits in four-wheeled caravans dumped into the sea, small vessels burnt in the harbour, and huge stocks of clothing burnt in bulk. "Jacquinot Bay: Barge loads of jeeps tipped into the sea.

"Nadzab: An outbreak of drunkenness among natives traced to - big dumps of tinned beer, which were bulldozed into the earth. "Lae: Warehouses full of photographic equipment and instruments abandoned.

"Saidor: Tons of food dumped into the sea or left on the wharf.-

"The destruction is staggering in its scope and thoroughness, but the American argument is 'that if the stuff were shipped home it would merely mean shifting junkheaps from* one place to another."

U.S. CAR WORKERS'

DISPUTE

(Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 27. Hopes, that General Motors, the United Automobile Workers, and Government officials might begin industrial peace talks in Washington to-morrow were dispelled when the president of General Motors (Mr C. E. Wilson) announced that he did not plan to go to Washington trrs week or at any other time.

The workers are proceeding with their plan to send nine delegates to Washington to confer with the Conciliation Service chief (Mr E. L. Warren).

EVIDENCE AT PEARL HARBOUR INQUIRY

CORDELL HULL DEFENDS 1941 POLICY

WASHINGTON, November 27. The former United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull), continuing his evidence at the Pearl Harbour inquiry, said he believed that the State Department was thoroughly justified in wanting the fleet kept at Pear! Harbour late in 1941. "We were dealing with the worst international desperadoes within living memory," he said. Asked if he himself and President Roosevelt discussed keeping the fleet at Hawaii late in 1941, Mr Hull said he urged that the fleet should remain there.

He added: "Japan was working closely \Vith Italy and .Germany, and any indications that we were observing even a.fairly firm policy would find an echo in Berlin."