SUPPLY DANGERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24214, 4 March 1942, Page 5

SUPPLY DANGERS

SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC CONCERN IN AMERICA THE DEFENCE OF INDIA (Reed. 3 0.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Mar. 2 The Washington correspondent of the New York Times states that the United States is sending an important supply mission to India soon for the purpose of helping toward the defence of India and assisting in the distribution of war material from India to China and other United Nations' forces in the Middle East and Eastern theatres of war. The decision to send the mission, which will probably be headed by a personal representative of President Roosevelt, is evidence of ti;«? growing realisation in the United States of India's importance in the war effort.

\ With Rangoon cut off and Burma neutralised by recent Japanese operations, India has become a centre from which lease-lend goods are being to China. At the same time ( Japanese successes in tho south-western Pacific have raised serious doubts in Washington about the wisdom of sending large quantities of materials to the i South-west Pacific lest they be intercepted en route or seized by tin Japanese upon arrival. Consequently officials here now consider it is wiser to make secure the defences of India, particularly Ceylon find the two main ports of entry, Calcutta and Bombay. If these points can be held it is hoped that, in spite of the closing of tho Burma Road and tho penetration ol the Japanese into the Indian Ocean, tho United Nations may be able to convoy materials to a central supply base in India for distribution to any theatre oi war in that part of the world. American technicians wi,ll also assist in increasing the Indian output ot small arms for Indian soldiers in ordci to strengthen the defences of India against expected Japanese assault, which officials here believe to be inevitable. PRELUDE TO END RESISTANCE IN JAVA WASHINGTON OPINION (Reed. 12.40 a.m.) NEW YORK. Mar 3 The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says it is generally interpreted in Washington that General Wavell's replacement in the Pacific command is a prelude to the collapse of organised resistance in Java, the last major Allied stronghold in the Malayan Archipelago and the final source of petroleum for the United Nations in that area. The significance of these events for Australia is still obscure. However, the impression in Washington is that tho Japanese will not attempt a major invasion of Australia, but will bombard it and pass on to attack India as the next major step to their goal, and pu-h westward to meet the German and Italian forces somewhere in the Middle East. UNITED STATES TROOPS TASK IN NEW CALEDONIA (Recti. 12.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Mir 3 Commenting on the State Department's announcement that the United States recognises Free French control of French Pacific possessions, the New York Times says that United States troops presumably are already in New Caledonia guarding the rich nickel deposits there, which are important to the United States and would be most valuable to the Japanese. ESCAPED OFFICER ACCIDENT IN BATAVIA BANDOENG, Mar. 2 Major Moses, who escaped from Singapore with Major-General Bennett, was knocked down by a Batavian taxicab and had three ribs broken, after going through the Malayan campaign unscathed. TROOPS BY TAXI RUSHED TO JAVA FRONT BANDOENG, Mar. 2 The Associated Press correspondent states that Java's taxicabs are writing the sequel to the saga of the Paris taxis in the Battle of the Marne. Like the French cabbies, who rushed men to the front, and so enabled French troops to stop the German onslaught in August, 1914, the Jayanese are loading cabs with Dutch warriors and hurrying swiftly to the fighting areas. BOMBS ON SOLOMONS . (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) . CANBERRA, Mar. 3 An Australian air communique s'ays an enemy plane bombed Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands. There were 110 casualties. 1