AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

RETURNED FROM t-AR EAST. (Rec. 11.35). CANBERRA, March 17The majority of R.A.A.F. personnel who have been serving in the Far East, have returned to Australia. Mr. Drakeford, Air Minister, announced this to-day, He added that the v would be absoroed into home squadrons, so that their active service and experience would be widely distributed as far us possible. Most of the men, he said, had operatea right through the Malayan campaign, and in the early stages of the Sumatra and Java hostilities. Their morale was very high. RUGBY, iviarch 15. Further interesting details are available regarding the evacuation of R.A.A.F. men from northern island bases. The transfer occupied two nights and was completed by 2.30 in the morning. Meanwhile the Austral:ans were hustled, dive-bombea. and machine-gunned by the Japanese, who were attempting to destroy the Australian Dianes. To reduce weight to a minimum, all men stripped to the waist before embarking. Twenty-three were packed into planes normally carrying 13. Because of the danger of the plane losing equilibrium during the take-off. the men gathered near the - pilot’s end of the machine, except the wounded who lay on the floor at the other end. The bombers had only 700 yards’ runway.

General Bennett SYDNEY PAPER’S ESTIMATE. (Rec. 11.355). SYDNEY, March 17. The “Sydney Sun,” in an editorial, directing attention to an imminent threat of invasion in the north, demands the appointment or MajorGeneral Gordon Bennett, late of Malaya, to a post where he can deal first hand with the Japanese with the same unquestioned authority that he possessed in the Malaya campaign. The editorial emphasises Major General Bennett’s exceptional fitness for the task, instead of which, it says, he is being obliged to sit in an armchair preparing oiflcial re-

ports for a cumbersome military organ.sation. U.S. MATERIAL FOR AUSTRALIA LEASE-LEND AID. CANBERRA', March 16. “The flow of Lease-Lend equipment will become a mighty river. It will be a sufficient help to Australia to protect its great Continent,” said Mr W. S. Wasserman, head of the United States Lease-Lend mission to Australia. A survey of Australia’s requirements in this respect was begun today. when Mr Wasserman conferred with the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin' and the Minister for Customs. Interviewed. Mr Wasserman said that the United States looked upon Australians as their closest friends, and felt more strongly about helping Australia than any other country, with the possible exception of Canada. Mr Wasserman is to be appointed to the Allied Supply Council in Australia, which was set up in February to handle all supply problems in Australia. DAY OF PRAYER. SYDNEY, March 16. All Australian churches were crowded yesterday, when, in response to an appeal made by the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin), a national day of prayer was held.