THE JOB AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1945, Page 6

THE JOB AHEAD

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

SUPPLIES LOOM LARGELY

AUCKLAND February 5.

The arrival of Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser is regarded by people here as a symbol that events in the European, theatre of wax have now reached a stage at which the British strength .in the Pacific is beginning to mount to what befits the Empire in the struggle against the Pacific aggressors, so that an adequate share can be taken with the American forces.

At his Press interview Sir Bruce said that as the opportunity occurred, and according to the amount of work that could be done in the Dominion, the ships of the Pacific Fleet would be sent to the Dominion.

"We want as much work done as can be here," he said. "Australia is going to give us a lot of supplies, and we hope to get a lot from here, too. We want as much as possible the Royal New Zealand Navy with us, too." His objective was expressed very shortly. "We want to knock out the Japs at the first opportunity," he said. "I have been up already to see them at the battle for Luzon. I think we shall get the better of them all right." Asked if all the New Zealand naval operational units would be under his command, Sir Bruce said this would be so, with the exception of those committed to General Mac Arthur. The Achilles and Gambia would both be under his command.

Another question was whether his fleet was in itself strong enough to fight what was left of the Jap fleet. He said he could not make public any statement on the remaining strength of the Jap fleet. However, it was not a strong fleet. We are quite strong enough to fight them, he said. Asked if New Zealand's part in aiding the Pacific Fleet would extend beyond the provision of ships, and whether New Zealand could expect to see units of his fleet,- he replied: "As opportunity occurs and according to the amount of work you can do for us. We will call on you for help when there is fighting to be done. We naturally will not be able to send ships here on calls, but you can take it that you will see something of us. We will be calling on New Zealand for supplies. BUTTER AND LAMB. "We are hoping to get a lot of NewZealand butter and lamb from you here," the Admiral went on. "At present we are having Irish butter, but New Zealand butter, which every English housewife knew so well before the war, is seldom seen in the shops over there now, and it is the same with lamb.' Sir Bruce said he could not give much information about his fleet for very obvious reasons. However, he accepted as being a fair question one about the percentage of his aircraftcarriers to the larger units. He said there were 50 per cent, carriers to the larger vessels.

The transfer for the fleet was a very big job, and the planning had begun a long while ago. When reference was made to the fact that today was the Admiral's birthday, he said he had been given a birthday cake on the ship. When a woman reporter asked: "Did it have candles?" the Admiral replied: "Good "lord no. There's not enough wax in the ship. It ™sawry large cake." He added that with his birthday coinciding with his arrival in New Zealand, he-was able to say to himself, "Many happy returns."