DARWIN’S DANGER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21009, 4 February 1943, Page 3

DARWIN’S DANGER

POSSIBLE OBJECTIVE MASSED ENEMY FORCES U.S. PRESS COMMENTS (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Feb. 3. While there is no official statement from Washington on the Tokio claim that the Japanese have sunk five Allied warships, two battleships and three cruisers, in a two-day air assault in the southern Solomons, the New York Times believes that such an attack did take place.

The paper offers no comment on the Japanese claims of damage, but says that the Tokio report of the battle should be read in the light oi urgent appeals tor aid made by the Australian Pi'ime Minister, Mr J. It expresses the belief that Darwin would become an immediate objective for enemy forces massing in Timor and adjacent jumping-oh places. Australian newspaper correspondents in American say that the number of anti-climaxes in the Pacific war has produced among many Americans the feeling that Australia is continualy crying “wolf.” Nevertheless. each Australian warning hat been followed by major enemy attacks, but he has not been able to secure victories. The New York journal American declares that the southern Pacific is a maior battle zone and should not be maintained as more than a pioving ground for token elements el American land, sea and a.r forces The paper praises General Macarthur as a superb strategist, adding: “He is thoroughly capable of winning the war in the Pacific. He shoula have the opportunity to win it and, especially, he should have the means to win it.” Losses of Shipping The Japanese Prime Minister, General Tojo has told the House of Peers that Japan is endeavouring to increase her sea transportation capacity by emphasising the construction of standard vessels and wooden vessels. She is also contemplating the use of rafts, according to a Tokio broadcast.

This is interpreted as an admission of the heavy losses inflicted on the Japanese merchant marine.

it is reported from Canberra that members of the Commonwealth Government are concerned because American critics of the use. of the Australian militia look upon the allocation of specified areas of service as a limitation rather than an extension of the use of the home forces. They point out. that the militia is only a small proportion of Australia’s ai'med forces. It is felt that sufficient emphasis has not been placed abroad on the fact that the Australian Imperial Force can and will, if required, serve in any theatre of war.