GRIM WARNINGS

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1942, Page 5

GRIM WARNINGS

COURSE OF THE WAR By Australian Prime Minister L.uSu eZ N.Z. Cable Asan.l (Rec. 1.10.) MELBOURNE, June 17. "Tne fate of the Soviet Republic is in tne balance. Tne news from Libya is now good. The submarine warfare against the Allied shipping has reached a high peak figure." These were grim warnings given bv the Prime Minister Mr. J. Curtin , a review of the war position in the course of a national broadcast tonight in support of the Thirty Millions War Loan, which is cilosing at the week-end.

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, he said, was fighting for her very existence, and for the maintenance of everything that she had ouiit 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 Bast is no less critical,” said Mr. Curtin. The most casual observer realised tnat u 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 additional, the Australian life-fine would be severed thus leavin? 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 of a merciful deliverance to the people of the Commonwealth. The enemy’s submarine warfare had more recently been conducted off the coast of Australia, bringm peril right to our home. But the enemy had not gone, unscathed. Events such as these, added Mr. Curtin emphasised the vital flact that Australia could not divorce herself from the depredations of the enemyin the more distant threatres of was. It was vital to, the Allied strategy that Japan should mot take Australia. It was equally vital to the United Nations’ cause that the war against Japan should be won. If Australia was lost, then the Mate 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.