PRAISE FOR AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 105, 30 October 1942, Page 4

PRAISE FOR AUSTRALIA

STATEMENT BY GEN,

MACARTHUR

(By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright' (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 29. A tribute to' Australia's war effort was paid today by General Douglas Mac Arthur. He emphatically denied the American charge ; that political ...differences axe affecting Australia's fighting power and also declared that he had no wish to run for the Presidency of the United States, saying: "I started as a, soldier and I shall finish. as one."': . . .-,-.■■''■■'„ \ .');''";, .General Mac Arthur's - statement reads:— • . ■ —No nation in the world is .making a more supreme war effort than Australia. It is rapidly gearing 'to full capacity. ' . ' ~ FULL USE OF RESOURCES. , "Its resources are relatively meagre, but it is using them to the-utmost, its effort is universal and . embraces equally all classes ■ and ail parties.- It has unanimously and completely supported me in my military command, and-the harmony and co-operation between the Australians ana Americans in this area are inspirational. ■'■. "Such internal party differences as exist are largely based upon the desire of one group or other xo accelerate rather tnan retard the war potential, i am deeply grateful tor their magnificent spirit ot iriendship and understanding, without which it would have been duricult to go on. "I have noted a statement from aie 'Christian Science Monitor's' Washington correspondent that Washington was largely responsible for the establishment of two separate commands in the Pacific, partly because of the Conservative opposition which launched *■ 'Mac Arthur lor President' campaign. "I have no political ambitions whatsoever. Any suggestion to the contrary must be regarded as merely an amiable gesture of good will, dictated by friendship. I started as a soldier and I shall finish as one. RETIREMENT AFTER WAR. "The only hops and ambition I have in this world is for victory for our cause in the war. If I survive, the campaign I shall return to that retirement irom which this, great struggle called me." ' ,- , The Sydney "Sun' comments that, "Though General,-MacArthur did not mention Mr. Hanson Baldwin by name, his statement is, a complete answer to Mr. Baldwin's criticism .of mis The paper adds, however, that; there is a minority "whose conduct is an outrage to their fellow-citizens.,, "Miners throw a mine idle because a wheeler's trousers are stolen. fiteering and black markets continue in a-mean struggle for persotial advantage out of the national extremity. Politicians still squabble. v t "It is time that every -Australian realised his country's, danger, forgo* his petty problems, and pulled; his ml* weight." ■ __' ,