OFFENSIVE MOVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20836, 15 July 1942, Page 5

OFFENSIVE MOVE

AUSTRALIAN HINT JAPS' PACIFIC BASES MINISTER’S WARNING ’(By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (2.15 p.iti.j SYDNEY, July 14. •‘We piust not and we shall not oe satisfied With a defensive role here in Australia. We must be prepared to rtiake an offensive—an attack in company with our Allies—to drive the Japanese from the Allied territories they have occupied to the north of Australia,” declared the Minister of the Army, Mr. F. M. Forde. He emphasised that the objective of attacking the Japanese had to be kept in view in all the south-west Pacific war preparations. The working people of Australia had, perhaps, more to lose in this war than any other section of the community. He believed, however, that the workers were co-operating more wholeheartedly with the Commonwealth Government to-day than at any other > period of Australia's history. Australia could not lean on the manhood of any other country. She ' must be Strong and self-reliant by her own efforts. The suggestion that a limited offensive against the Japanese southwest Pacific outposts may soon be launched from Australia is made by Mr. Edward Angly, the Chicago Sun war correspondent at General MacArthur’s headquarters. He says “there is no' thought of opening a ■ fully-fledged second front in this area in the near future, but there is always the possibility that the Australian and American forces may take a jab or two at their opponents. Recent- air reconnaissances are perhaps a foreboding of more important events in the offing. On the sea there have been reports of similar' feeling-out activities and. perhaps, some jockeying for positions.”