PACIFIC PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24302, 17 June 1942, Page 3

PACIFIC PLANS

AUSTRALIA'S POSITION

AIR RAIDS AS DIVERSION (Special Australian Correspondent) (Becd. 10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 16 Renewed large-scale Japanese attacks on Darwin are designed to check the Allies' growing offensive strength in the north. This is the opinion of some military observers here. Others believe that the failure of the Midway Island scheme, with its primary purpose of cutting the United States-Australia supply line, has forced Japan to alter her plans, and that a direct attack on the North Australian mainland is an early prospect. A number regard enemy raids at Darwin as a diversion to cover other activities. Japan, from the day her campaign against the Netherlands East Indies ended, has been committed to efforts to occupy the chain of islands screening Australia's east coast —the Solomons, New Hebrides and Now Caledonia. Only then would she be in a position to launch a menacing offensive against Australia's sea lanes combined with raids 011 Australian industrial centres.

Port Moresby Reinforced The establishment of Rabaul as the enemy's main southward base, and the fortification of Sohana Island and Queen Carola Harbour, in the northern Solomons, confirm this purpose. Since the Coral Sea battle heavy land and air forces have been sent to strengthen the garrison at Port Moresby, threatening the Hank of any Japanese advance. If Japan has been diverted from her southward drive, when she could ill afford to ignore Port Moresby, then she must admit to having lost sea supremacy in the South-west Pacific. Darwin is only 580 miles from the important naval base at Amboina and about 400 miles from Koepang. A Japanese fleet moving on Darwin from these bases might fully exploit the element of- surprise and would be unlikely to encounter any powerful Allied naval task force. Effect of Midway Battle

But- even the successful occupation of Darwin at this stage of tl e Pacific war would not be of strategic importance comparable with the occupation of Port Moresby and the strongly-held New Caledonia. A direct attack on Darwin now would be an admission of comparative weakness which the cunning enemy is unlikely to make. In Australia, as well as in America, publication of details of the Midway Battle is in danger of being followed by another drift toward complacency. Decrying ill-conceived statements that the initiative in the South-west Pacific lias already passed to the Allies, the Svdney Sun to-day says in an editorial article: "The two latest Pacific naval battles have proved one thing alone — that land planes are superior to naval pianes, for which reason the United States needs more island bases in the Pacific. Talk of Initiative Premature ".Japan, owing to the foolish complacencv which presented her with the Marshall and Caroline Islands in 1920 and to the initiative which gave her control of the Philippines, the East Indies, Guam and Wake Islands, the Solomons, New Britain, the Malayan Archipelago and even part of New Guinea, is now sitting pretty against an Allied offensive which has not yet begun. It is surely premature to talk about the initiative." Australia is still very much on the defensive, but it is a defence becoming more and more powerful and bold. Continued enemy raids on Darwin, and even on other northern centres, can be expected in reprisal for the damage Allied aircraft have been doing in enemy-occupied bases north-west of Australia. They may have the additional important purpose of diverting attention from more vital moves.

TOKIO RADIO CLAIM BOMBING OF MELBOURNE (Special Australian Correspondent) {Recil. 12.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 16 Tokio radio has reported that Melbourne was bombed on Monday night. The report was picked up by the Department of Information listening post. Melbourne has no other knowledge of the raid. Tokio radio also claimed that following the shelling of Sydney, the Federal Government had ordered all women and children to evacuate the city.

RELATIONS STRAINED HUNGARY AND RUMANIA LONDON, June 16 Strained relations are reported between the Axis satellites Hungary and Rumania over the disputed territory in Transylvania. One Hungarian newspaper bitterly complains about the requisitioning by the Rumanian authorities of foodstuffs from Hungarians living in southern Transylvania. The Premier of Hungary has been visiting the territory in Transylvania which Hitler awarded to Hungary at Rumania's expense. He told the Hungarian inhabitants that their interests would be protected. He referred to "another Power"—-presumably Rumania—which had established itself in Hungarian Transylvania, and added that the territory of Hungarian Transylvania would be defended, if need be to the death.

ENEMY SHIPS BOMBED AMERICANS SINK THREE LONDON, June 16 The Royal Air Force oifensive against Northern France and other enemyoccupied countries continued yesterday. Enemy shipping off the Dutch. Belgian and French coast was attacked. An American pilot, Squadron-Leader W. B. Cooper, known as "Lucky Cooper," swept down on a convoy oi three Gorman ships off the Dutch coast and sank two of them. Pilots of the Second American Eagle Squadron attacked a German minesweeper and left it sinking.

DECISION REVOKED leading case quoted CRcnl. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, .Tune 10 The House of Lords revoked a decision which ruled courts on the Court of Appeal for 38 years, ft often happens that one_ party to a contract pays over money in advance, after which an event hevond the control of either prevents the other party fulfilling his part. The Court of Appeal, m the leading case of Chandler versus Webster, decided against the plaintiff, who sought to regain the money. r T _ The case betore tho Houso of Lords arose in 1939, when a Leeds companycontracted with a Polish purchaser to deliver machinery to Gdynia and received £IOOO as part payment m advance Gdvnia was declared hostile territory before delivery could be made and the contract was manifestly frustrated and its fulfilment even illegal The House of Lords on appeal found for the Polish company, which sought to recover the money.

TROOPS IN MADAGASCAR LONDON, June 10 The War Office states that East African troops have joined the other Allied forces serving in Madagascar ft was announced earlier that South African forces were co-operating with the British troops there. In the British land forces there are contingents of many famous regiments.