"MUST BE DEFENDED"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1942, Page 5

"MUST BE DEFENDED"

POINTS NORTH OF AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, January 26.

Sir Keith Murdoch, the Melbourne newspaper proprietor and former Director-General of Information, who has returned from his world tour, stated his opinion that the possible logs of the main points in the archi-pelagoes-north of Australia foreshadowed one of the greatest of disasters to the white races. AH possible help, he sajd, must be concentrated in these islands. Their defence in some cases was impossible, but in all cases it was most difficult because of the Japanese sea and air strength and their efficient army organisation. Japan, added Sir Keith, had a highly-trained amphibian division, special jungle-penetrating divisions, with portable tanks, and a deeplypenetrating intelligence system. She was setting up on each side of her prey a screen to prevent reinforcements getting through. She aimed to isolate Singapoi-e and the other vantage points, the recapture of which would entail withering losses and render final conquest difficult and even doubtful.

Australians must be prepared for bitter Blows for a long time.

No large-scale invasion of Australia would be attempted by Japan, however, unless the Japanese fleet had gained complete mastery of the waters round Australia, which, said Sir Keith, was only possible if Japan obtained a decisive victory over the British and American fleets.