THE ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 8

THE ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

EQUIPMENT OF AUSTRALIAN TRUOPS KEEN DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT Press Association —By Telegraph--Copyright ■. CANBERRA, April 25., Bitter exchanges occurred in. the Federal House of Representatives during the debate on equipment for the Australian forces fighting in the South; west Pacific island campaigns. The Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin,. denied that there was any justification for the allegations that the Australian force* [ were inadequately equipped for -these! campaigns or for the allegations that the operations should hot have beeti undertaken. ••■'•'• :'

Mr Ourtin quoted from a report by J the Acting Minister for the Army, | Senator .1. H. Fraser. which stated that such shortages of equipment as did exist (mainly of mechanical equipment at Aitape, New Guinea) were due to the world-wide shipping shortage. Opposition members strongly -criticised the Minister's report, claiming that it ignored the testimony of frontline troops and experienced war correspondents. The Oommar.der-in-Chief of the Australian forces. General Sir Thomas Blarney, was also severely criticised. _ . , The main conclusions drawn ,by Senator Fraser in his report, written alter a recent tour of the front-line areas, were first, there was no substance? in the allegations that Austra , lian equipment in operational area* was lacking in either quality or quantity; secondly, the mechanical equipment was in accordance with the requirements of the present operations,' though more heavy mechanical equipment was desirable, except in New Britain, where it would be impossible to. use it; thirdly, all the major diffioultien in the conduct of operations, the provision of supplies and reasonable amenities for the troops, could be attributed : to the shortage of shipping, which we* a world-wide problem. Mr Ourtin said the Australian Government accepted full responsibility h for the operations in the islands to the north. Australia wasfollowing the American principle of clearing the Japanese from the islands to free the natives and obtain the use of the islands' resources. Thus troops would be freed; for other fighting. It had been intended to use Australian troops' in tho' Philippines, but the plan was cancelled Heeause of the unexpectedly swift success of the American campaign.

Challenging the Ministerial report and the Prime Minister's statement on the adequacy of the equipment, the deputy leader of the Opposition, Mr E. J. Harrison, said that in island fighting the Australians needed more bulldozers, »'arfh scoops, amphibious jeeps, and; amphibious tracked vehicles, particularly in Bougainville. The Australians were fighting a 1945 jungle war with 1915 equipment. He did not wish to criticise the commander-in-chief unduly, but he knew of no other country, which would tolerate the commander-in-chief directing operations from the Flemington Racecourse. • Mr Harrison described Senator Eraser's report as being " a white-, washing statement by a Minister who,' because of his ladk of military experience, would not know what to look fori and if he saw it would not know what; it was." (Governmbent uproar.) GENERAL MACARTHUR'S POSITION. The former Army Minister, Mr P. C. Spender, said some reform in General MacArthur's directive of the Australian forces was overdue, since General MacArthur was now too far from Australia

Replying to the Government statement that in five months of fighting in the Solomons, New Britain, and New Guinea the Australian casualties were 371 killed and 1,394 wounded or missing compared with 5,549 Japanese killed and probably another 1,009 killed, Opposition members pointed out that 90,000 Japanese had been isolated in these areas. At the present rate of progress it was going to require considerable time before all were exterminated. Mr O. L. Abbott (Country Party) declared that American troops who hail quitted the areas taken over by the Australians pitied the Australian troops. The Americans, who had a eur-

plus of equipment, before their departure had removed the tyres and batteries from jeeps and then dumped the chassis into the sea: Huge piles of stores were also burned. '

The debate is expected to he continued when the House resumes on Thursday after the Anzac Day feces*. •