AMERICAN HELP

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24244, 9 April 1942, Page 7

AMERICAN HELP

PACIFIC OFFENSIVE MEN AND MATERIAL NEW ASSIGNMENT METHOD i(Recd. 6.30 p.m.) "WASHINGTON, April 7 The Pacific War Council met at the White House for 90 minutes today. Mr. Harry Hopkins, lend-lease supervisor, yvas absent. President Roosevelt later commented on the amity displayed at the meetings of the council. He remarked with a smile that one of the members had said: "Our record so far is pretty good. We have had two meetings and there have not been any newspaper headlines on dissension." Questioned after to-day's meeting, the British Ambassador, Viscount Halifax, said President Roosevelt presented & very encouraging review of the reinforcements, both of men and material, that the United States had sent to various points in the Pacific. There had been a great deal of talk about the allocation of munitions and the principles of allocation. "Everything Excellent" The Hon. Walter Nash (New Zealand) said: "Everything is going excellently. I do not know of a council or meeting doing a better job than we have done so far." Sir. T. V. Soong (China) said: "The picture of the Pacific is encouraging from the Chinese point of view." Mr. Leighton McCarthy (Canada) said the council discussed the general war situation as it affected all countries, including Canada. Dr. A. Loudon (Netherlands) said: "President Roosevelt will give you what information there is." Dr. H. V.'. Evatt (Australia) said: "The second meeting of the council has fulfilled the promise of the first. .We are gradually getting to grips with the supply and munitions problems, so that they may be treated on the basis of assignment to war theatres rather than to Governments. This will enable important but subordinate matters, such as shipping, munitions, supplies and raw materials, to be related continuously to the assessed strategic requirements of each and every theatre of war." Strengthening Leaders Dr. Evatt explained that the new fystem was important because it would put power m the hands of the strategic leaders and joint staffs, which would allocate a proportion of all the munitions and ships available to certain areas, such as the Pacific, the Middle East and Russia. Everything would then automatically go in proportion, keeping the whole distribution free of political pressure. Military men would decide all crucial questions of' military importance. It was known that the military chiefs in Washington placed the Pacific in an exalted position in their appraisals. Therefore the new method undoubtedly would be eminently satisfactory to Australia.

JAVA FIGHTS ON ! TROOPS IN MOUNTAINS (.WELL SUPPLIED WITH ARMS MELBOURNE, April 8 Dr. van Mook, Lieutenant-Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies, conferred h§re at length with General Douglas Mac Arthur. They discussed the considerable part the Netherlands forces are expected to play as the war progresses in the south-western Pacific. Dr. van , h Mook informed General Mac Arthur that resistance to the •Japanese invasion continues in Java. Two Netherlands Indies forces of considerable size, one under General Schilling and the other under General Pressman, are fighting fiercely in the interior jungles and mountains of Java. lhey are well supplied with food and munitions, and are engaging a considerable enemy force. Vice-Admiral Helfrich has been appointed by the Netherlands Government to command all the Dutch naval, land and air forces in the 6outh-west Pacific. A board of three has been appointed to administer Dutch East Indies affairs in Australia, in co-operation with the Netherlands Minister at Canberra.

RETURNING HOME AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN [(Reed. 6.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, April 7 Hundreds of men from Britain to be trained for the Air Force have arrived iii Canada, also some Canadian Air Force men on leave. One interesting IXoup is composed of 32 Australian airmen, veterans -of sky battles over Europe, who are going home to help to bolster Australia's air defences.