The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 18, 1942. A GRIM WARNING.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1942, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 18, 1942. A GRIM WARNING.

Pictures of the war, broadcast {.by press and. radio, from day to day, give the average individual but a partial view. A few days ago, it had, for instance, appeared that set backs in the Pacific theatre were well Calculated to give a definitely defensive turn to enemy strategy. . But before the public can safely draw general conclusions they must take note of the conclusion drawn by [leaders who are more fully posLsessed of the vital facts. Oonisequently any premature elation I either here or in Australia is apt to be sobered by last night’s analysis of the war situation in which the Australian Prime Minister gave a warning that it remains still a most critical situation. Though he alluded to recent Allied successes in sea warfare as a merciful deliverance for Australia. Mr. Curtin doubtless bore in mind the unexpected enlargement the previous day of the Japanese air offensive against the two. most vital bases in the north of Australia, Port Darwin and Port Moresby. It is of course, a fact, that the enemy failed again to do anything justifying the strength of the squadrons used, and again failed apparently at Port Moresby even to land any bombs at ail, but, apart from the loss of half a dozen Allied aircraft, the significance of this flare-up is that the Japanese tend to make a still greater endeavour to carry the war to the mainland, of Australia. Further afield, the situation is yet ho better in Libya, though it can be described, despite the Eighth Army’s withdrawals, as not being very much worse. British reinforcements have been got

through, in spite of large scale Axis 'opposition in the Mediterranean, and it may be hoped that the proven staying power of all the forces now defending’ Tobruk will be equal to the emergency. It could not, indeed, be said that Mr. Curtin’s review is complete, for it gave no inkling—probably advisedly—of the strategy tinderlying the Allied project for a second front. It did rightly lay emphasis on the U-boat problem, which is that of sea transport, revealing that a high peak figure has just been reached in losses since the .entry of America into the war. On the other hand, America’s phenomenal expansion in all forms of war construction and production is an essential feature in any true picture of the war at the moment. But there was a corrective element in the Australian Prime Minister’s estimate when he alluded to the fact that Russia’s position is still as critical as it has ever been. The meaning for us of that emphasis is that it must place a _ certain limit upon the assistance in munitions and other war materials available to contest the aggression of Japan. Hence Australia is about to close extensive industrial activity, and implement a war plan which implies . very clearly an imminent possibility of invasion. The call for unity is thus paramount, and a reflex in our own country may possibly be found in yesterday’s conference at Wellington with the object of bringing greater national unity. This is an hour so ericical that the people must be guided in a larger degree than ever by the judgment of those in the most responsible posts who are in possession of more information than the ordinary sitizen. There is nevertheless no more ground for pessimism than there is for complacency. Our particular situation is relatively better today than at any time since December 7, but the fact remains that a yet greater war effort is called for.