JAP. AERIAL RAIDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 June 1942, Page 5

JAP. AERIAL RAIDS

DARWIN AND PORT MORESBY LARGE FORCE EMPLOYED (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) SYDNEY, June 17. On Tuesday, there was a heavier enemy air raid on Port Moresby, combined with a fourth successive enemy day attack on Port Darwin. Tuesday’s fighting has been the biggest flare-up in the northern air war I for many weeks. I A fighter escort for Allied bombers, which made an attack in New . Guinea on Lae, was provided, for the first time. The need for such action has long been stressed and it has been made necessary by the high performance of the newest type of Zero plane employed by the Japanese.

The attacks on Port Darwin and Port Moresby on Tuesday have confounded the premature conclusions here that the Japanese air weight had been shifted from the north-east of Australia to the north-west of Timor Island. The Japanese show ability to deliver their blows instrength in both quarters. This has persuaded most of the commentators to take the view that the enemy retains powerful air strength throughout the south-west Pacific, and that he awaits only a more favourable opportunity for its employment. In their four latest raids on Port Darwin, the Japanese have sent over more than 160 bomber and fighter planes. They have lost 13 planes, while the Allies have lost six. Darwin has now had 19 air raids. On Tuesday again the damage was light. The bombs dropped were mainly of the anti-personnel type, and incendiaries. Great courage is reported to have been displayed by a subaltern and a sergeant. A fire occurred near a machine-gun post. They ran through the flames at least three times to drag out men who had been trapped. “Never have so many come so far for so little,” remarked a R.A.A.F. officer, when commenting on the latest Japanese raids on Port Darwin. The most serious material losses at Darwin have been in the troops’ living quarters. Australia is chuckling sympathetically at the misfortunes of a middleaged Englishman at Darwin, who rushed into a burning building immediately after the bombing. “I had 70 beautiful quid tucked away,” he said, “but as soon as I got inside the door, my ammunition caught fire, and it started popping all over the place, so I gave up.”

SERIES OF RAIDS. SYDNEY, June 17. Allied bombers made night attacks on Japanese positions in New Guinea and Timor. At Lae and Salamaua hits were made on the target areas and fires were started. On the way back four Japanese fighters were shot down. Two Allied aircraft were lost. At Koepang the aerodrome was successfully bombed. Darwin was again attacked by Japanese raiders last night. The attacking force comprised 27 bombers and 25 fighters. Negligible damage was done, and one Japanese fighter and one bomber were shot down. Two Allied aircraft were lost. The interception by Allied fighters of Japanese air units, including 18 fighters, prevented an attack on Port Moresby. Four Allied aircraft were lost. MR CURTIN’S WARNING. MELBOURNE, June 17. “The fate of the Soviet Republic is in the balance. The news from Libya is not good. The submarine warfare against the Allied shipping has reached a high peak figure.” These were grim warnings given by the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, in a review of the war position in course of a national broadcast to-night in support of the Thirty Millions War Loan, which is closing at the weekend.

Russia, he said, was meeting the full fury of the Nazi onslaught. The defeat of Russia would mean a crushing blow to the Allied cause. It would strengthen Japan’s position against China, Australia, and New Zealand. Russia was fighting for her very existence, and for the maintenance of everything that she had built up since 1917. It was vital that she should be helped to the utmost. Nothing must be withheld that would in any way contribute to her ultimate triumph over the powerful forces that are arrayed against her. “The position in the Middle East is no less critical,” said Mr Curtin. The most casual observer realised that if a complete setback were effected by Marshal Rommel’s forces, it would have grave repercussions against the Allied interest in the Suez Canal and in the Indian Ocean zones. In addition, the Australian life line would be severed, thus leaving Japan the complete control of Australia’s destiny. Mr Curtin went on to refer to the Coral Sea Battle. He said that the Australian Government and people joined in the highest admiration and pride at the splendid victory that the American Naval Air Forces achieved over Japan in that engagement, which was in the nature 01. a merciful deliverance to the people-of the Commonwealth. The enem'y’.s submarine warfare had more recently been conducted off the coast of Australia, bringing peril right to our home. But the enemy had not gone unscathed. Events such as these, added Mr Curtin, emphasised the vital fact that Australia could not divorce herself from the depredations of the enemy in the more distant theatres of war. It was vital to the Allied strategy that Japan should not take Australia. It was equally vital to the United Nations’ cause that the war against Jaoan should be won. If Australia was lost, then the fate of Hawaii, and all the other Pacific outposts would be endangered, and all hope of retrieving the Philippines, Singapore, and the Netherland East Indies would disappear. Mr Curtin mentioned that Australia had lost six warships since the war began, but. her remaining units were still well in the fight. CLOTHES RATIONING. SYDNEY, June 16. Coupon clothes buying has begun in Australia. The first day’s trading saw about a 40 per cent, drop from normal business. Retailers believe that the severity of the rationing will mean that buying will stabilise at this level. Second-hand clothes dealers -report heavy buying, and are likely to introduce their own rationing scheme. The clothes rationing in Australia, where there are unlimited supplies of wool, has seemed to b% particularly severe in comparison with that of Great Britain, where all the raw materials have to be imported. Mr. L. Withel, director of the Associated Chambers of Manufacturers, made this statement when speaking in Canberra. He added that a big curtailment of trade must be expected in a few months. MANPOWER DRIVE

(Rocd. 12.55) MELBOURNE, June 18. A rapid acceleration of the call-up of men and women for war service, particularly for work under the Allied works scheme, is expected during the next few weeks. It is estimated that thirty thousand will be removed from their present employment to

war work, by the end of June. Another fifty-three thousand a month are wanted until the end of the year. Clothes rationing will release for war work during the next three months, about forty thousand people in retail stores throughout Australia. An unofficial estimate indicates that about 24,000 will be women and 16,000 men. In addition thousands will be released from activities associated with production and distribution of rationed goods. The coupon system is expected to reduce consumer expenditure on clothing by between forty and fifty per cent, of pre-ra-tion rates. The Minister of War Organisation and Industry (Mr. Dedman) said a survey of industry to see how many men could be released for war work was proceeding satisfactorily. No industry would be passed over. Even those considered essential would be looked into to see if more men could be released, as manpower was desperately needed for the war.

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE. SYDNEY, June 17. More than 200 trade union delegates, from all of the States, together with Government representatives, will attend the most important industrial conference ever held in Australia, which is to open in Melbourne on Friday. The Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, will preside. It is believed Mr Curtin will demand that the trade unions shall abandon all plans for the improvement of wages or of conditions while the war lasts. He is expecteu to tell the unions frankly that the Government has finished its blueprint for the war, and that it remains only for the plan to be put into effect. The onus to see that the plan is implemented will rest, mainly, on the unions. Large industries, both in Sydney and in Melbourne, have been earmarked for closing. The Prime Minister has stated that the operational side of the war has ceased to be a matter for Government initiative. This is in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief and his subordinate Commanders, who, also, control the strategy in this theatre of war in relation to the strategy in other places. Mr Curtin added that industry already has been rationalised to some extent, and that rationalisation was likely to become increasingly necessary in future. N.S.W. COAL-MINES. SYDNEY, June 17. The Government now is prepared to treat daily coal mining stoppages in New South Wales as unavoidable features of the industry, it is stated officially. Coal production in the State has been stabilised at ten million tons a year compared with a figure of nine million tons before the war. For some weeks day-to-uay stoppages occurred in various mines. A code for settling disputes was recently laid down, and has resulteo in improved production, but disputes continue to occur in some mines which are closed for a short period. MELBOURNEMORALITY (N.Z.I’.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, June 17. The complaints of immorality and drunkenness among troops and among girls in Melbourne have been investigated by the Army Minister, Mr. Forde. He said that he was seriously concerned at what he had seen during a tour of the Melbourne streets at night. Steps must be taken to prevent a continuance of the present laxity. Taxi drivers, with years of experience, say that they have never seen such abandonment in the city as now. A serious suggestion was made recently that a midnight “curfew” should be imposed on Melbourne women.‘There seems to be little likelihood of this imposition. Strenuous opposition has been voiced by women’s organisations throughout Australia. Mr. Forde’s inquiries, however, are expected to result in still stricter policing of the men on leave, and in heavier penalties for drunkenness. About two hundred prosecutions for breaches of the liquor laws have already been authorised in Melbourne. Dealing editorially with the problems of misbehaviour by a small section of the troops on leave, the Sydney “Sun” suggests that this mattei is one for Army education, more than for discipline. The paper says: “Pride is the foundation of soldierly bearing. The soldier must be taught that to bear arms for his country is a proud duty, and that he must do nothing to disgrace the service and the uniform he wears.”

The largest and most palatial servicemen’s club in Australia was opened in Melbourne to-day. It is staffed by orderlies from the hospital ship which brought the first American wounded Irom the Philippines. The cafeteria will accommodate i troops at a sitting. It has sleeping accommodation for about three hundred. The club has its own orchestra, and dancing space is available for 650 couples. Australian as well as American troops are entitled to make use of the club.

SYDNEY’S A.R.P

SYDNEY, June 17

Mr. C. W. Hamann, formerly of Christchurch, who is deputy-chief cngmecr to the Ministry of Home Security in Great Britain, states that Sydney’s Air Raid Precautions organisation is of a very high standard. Mr. Hamann, who is on loan to the New Zealand Government as technical adviser on civil defence, arrived in Australia recently. He particularly approved the use of Sydney’s underground railway tunnels as airraid shelters.

OVERSEAS SERVICE

SYDNEY, June 17

Blue chevrons for the members of the A.I.F. who have seen service overseas will be issued shortly. The Minister for the Army (Mr. Forde) has explained that, as soon as a man has embarked for overseas, he bebecomes eligible for one chevron. After a year of service overseas, he is entitled to a second chevron with another chevron for each additional year.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

SYDNEY, June 17

The New South Wales State Minister of Education, Mr. Clive Evatt. said: “Physical education is of the greatest importance in wartime. If I do not make the children of this State physically fit, it will not be for want of trying.” Mr. Evatt stated he hoped to establish a physical training camp for school children on the Australian Alps. A site of 1200 acres of snow country had been selected for the purpose. The Minister has protested against the calling up of 14 physical instructors from schools.

REPLY TO BRITAIN’S CRITICS

(N'.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent)

(Rec. 12.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 18. A.I.F. officers returning from overseas say they are amazed at the ignorance of most Australians of the part played by the British forces in the Middle East. Their comments have received wide publicity. These officers resent the reflections on the worth of British forces, and suggest that the only difference between England and Australia is that the people of England have not only been threatened —they have been in the battle-line with 50,000 killed by enemy air attacks. “Some people in Australia seem to

have forgotten, or have not heaid, how the Britisa and A.I.F. were side by side in all the campaigns which the A.I.F. have fought,” said a senior officer just returned. “The people here should never forget the exploits of the Royal Navy around Greece and Crete. I have heard many stories too. of the R.A.F. which, hampered by shortage of aircraft, got on and did its job as best it could. Often, as in Greece, hopelessly outnumbered, the pilots took the air again and again, and suffered casualties far treater in proportion tnan tne troops on the ground. The British people stand where they do to-day because they have been prepared -o go and fight and die. The people of England have shown themselves still ready. Now is our turn. The world waits to know whether we shall stand our test.” RADIO “HATE” CAMPAIGN. (Recd. 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 18. The recent radio “Hate the Japanese” campaign, organised by the Department of Information, is deplored by the Commonwealth war historian, Doctor C. E. W. Bean, who describes the campaign as “dragging Australia’s dignity through the mud in the presence of the world. “By ail means tell us the truth, straight and simple,” says Dr. Bean, “and leave it to us to hate the things we ought to hate, —not slant eyes or yellow skins, which have covered the brains and hearts of some of the greatest and saintliest men ever born, but the Fascist crime, such as the devilish wickedness of trying to corrupt Chinese patriotism by opium. The Allied Nations had a cause to fight better than the Crusades, and could afford to fight it clean. Radio attempts to raise hate, fell ludicrously far from their purpose.”