ALASKA ALARMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24303, 18 June 1942, Page 3

ALASKA ALARMED

LANDING IN ALEUTIANS

JAPANESE MUST BE OUSTED (Reed. 9.55 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June IC The Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Harold lekos, has ordered the civilian population in Alaska to be placed on a war footing for complete collaboration with the military and naval authorities there. He has also directed the Governor, Mr. Ernest H. Grueiiing, to organise an Alaskan War Council immediately. Meanwhile there are no further reports of the progress of American air and naval attempts to dislodge the Japanese from their hold on the westernmost tip of the Aleutians. However, Mr. Antony J. Dimond, the Alaskan delegate to Congress, has warned the authorities that the Japanese must be ousted from the Aleutians promptly hefore they succeed in establishing bases for an aerial offensive against Alaska. Mr. Dimond disagreed with high military officials here, who are inclined to dismiss the Japanese landings lightly. "[ am terribly alarmed about it," said Mr. Dimond. A report from Vancouver states that 1/ieutenant-General Stuart, Chief of ilie Canadian General Staff, has stated that there is no reason for alarm over a "little invasion" of the Aleutians. Lieu tenant-General Stuart has departed for Victoria to assume temporary charge of the Pacific Command.

CANADIAN PLANS ADVANCED BASES FOR JAPAN WASHINGTON. June Hi A message from Ottawa says the Minister of Labour, Mr. "Humphrey Mitchell, announced that he intends to enforce the Order-in-Oouncil for a seven-day week for the continuous production of ships in Pacific Coast yards, in spite of the failure of two of the 11 unions to accept the plan. Mr. Humphreys said: "Make no mistake, Japan's invasion of the Aleutians was undertaken to provide advanced striking bases for the eventual bombing of Pacific Coast cities, shipyards and aeroplane factories. "Right now the Japanese are less than eight hours' bomber distance from British Columbian ports. They will try to work steadily closer. Alaska's defence depends on cargo ships. It is ships that will decide whether history will say of Alaska's defence, 'too little and too late.' "

ALUMINIUM SHORTAGE PLANE PRODUCTION HELD UP WASHINGTON, June Hi Senator la Follette told the Senate that the shortage of aluminium forgiug.s could be prevented. They had held down for years the production of GlenMartin bombers by 20 per cent. He urged the establishment of a Federal aluminium authority to direct all the Lnited States aluminium production, declaring that the production of aluminium had been warped by an overweening desire on the part of private corporations to protect their post-war interests.

"Kvery day the aluminium crisis is allowed to continue," he said, "we are failing to produce planes for the United Nations, and losing fighting men clue to their lack." He asserted that the Aluminium Company of America had discouraged independent producing facilities and also minimised the shortage in overoptimistic advertisements and announcements and had maintained dangerous ties with the German trade combine. I.G. Farbenindustrie.

HOME GUARD GUNNERS ENEMY PLANE SHOT DOWN LONDON, Juno 17 A group of Home Guardsmen had been attached as gunners at a south coast anti-aircraft battery in England and on their first night on duty they claim to have shot down one German raider. They are the first Home Guardsmen in the country to fire anything larger than a machine-gun in the defence of their homes. They had only just completed their training. For over two hours they helped to put up a heavy barrage during the raid, and one officer said it was the minute they had been waiting for. Almost every one of the men had suffered some loss from German bombing.