HARASSING FIRE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 2, 28 September 1942, Page 5

HARASSING FIRE

Field-Guns Used By Australians

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 26.

Australian 25-pounder field-guns are shelling the Japanese jungle posts near loribaiwi. Throughout Thursday the guns kept up a harassing fire on the enemy positions. This is the first time in the Owen Stanley Range campaign that our troops have had support-

ting artillery fire. “Artillery support should be as heartening to them in the Owen Stanley area as air support was at Milne Bay,” says a “Daily Telegraph” commentator.

SPIRITED DEFENCE OF ARMY LEADERS

Minister To Go To War Zone / CANBERRA, September 25. The Australian Government has the utmost confidence in General MacArthur and General Blarney, declared the Army Minister, Mr. Forde, when revealing that he would visit the New Guinea battle area. The Minister was replying in the House of Representatives to heated criticism of the leadership of the Australian Army. Expressing the opinion that the criticism levelled at the Army leadership was subversive and would give the impression that the troops in the islands were commanded by “nitwits,” Mr. Forde said the Government was proud of its Army leaders. Referring to the reorganization of the Allied Forces in the South-west Pacific, the Minister said the master stroke had been the appointment of “the greatest military man who had ever donned a uniform,” General Douglas MacArthur, to this command. That appointment had inspired the whole people of the democracies. “I am proud, too, of the appointment of General Blarney as Commander-In-Chief of the Allied land forces,” said the Minister. “He is working in the closest co-operation with General MacArthur,” Barrage of Criticism. During the past few days a barrage of criticism has been hurled at the Service. Ministers for their failure to visit New Guinea. The attitude of the critics is epitomized by Mr. Abbott, M.H.R., who said: “There is something wrong somewhere to cause our men—the salt of earth, acknowledged the bravest of the brave —to fall back before the Japanese.” Mr. Forde will visit Port Moresby, Darwin, and other battle areas of the South-west Pacific war theatres. He told the House the Government’s confidence in the military leaders was reciprocated. “We will not be stampeded into making scapegoats of military leaders for the shortcomings of our defence, the blame for which should be laid at the door of the previous Administration, not on General MacArthur or General Blarney.” Fie declared that critics of the military chiefs were undermining the morale of the fighting men and the people of Australia. There had been a regrettable tendency to “knock” the military leaders in Australia. These men had under them the finest fighting force ever assembled in the Southern Hemisphere. Implicit Faith. “We have implicit faith in these military leaders, and we are proud of them,” he said. “Members of this House who have poured torrents of abuse on the Army Minister and on the Army, its discipline, and its commanders, just can t take it,” declared • the Victorian Independent, Mr. J. Coles. “Their outbursts are activated by the fear of setbacks in New Guinea. Members of this House should set an example to the people of Australia.” Some of the critical statements referred to included: “It is madness to send raw youths from Sydney and Melbourne to tropical jungles.” “The people have been lulled into a false sense of security because of the ex traordinarily optimistic statements.” “In the early days of the New Guinea lighting, our troops were untrained. East man should have at least six months’ training before being sent into battle.” HARDEST FIGHTING AHEAD Admiral’s Warning (Received September 27, 10 p.m.) PEARL HARBOUR, September 26. In a speech after decorating 36 airmen Vice-Admiral William Halsey said: “Daily shifts at home from optimism to pessimism are not reflected! in the true course of the war. We who do the fighting appreciate that the completion of the vast Pacific effort cannot change overnight. By no means have we the enemy on the run. We know the hardest fighting is ahead.”