PACIFIC SECURITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24758, 4 December 1943, Page 7

PACIFIC SECURITY

NEW THINKING NECESSARY NEW YORK, Dpc. 2 "The charter written in the Egyptian desert means a reorganisation of the entire Pacific world," says the New York Times in an editorial article. "It also raises the question of the disposition of the mandated islands and a whole complex of questions about colonial administration. The declaration carefully abstains from mentioning self-government, but it may be doubted whether the mere return to former status will be sufficient. "America already has set the pace in the new order by granting the Philippines complete independence. The Dutch Government has moved in the same direction and it must be assumed that other colonial Powers will be forced to take similar measures. "The United States is especially interested in the mandated islands, because they are the most easterly bases for Japanese aggression against America. We have no desire for an empire and shall certainly not covet the islands as American possessions, but some solution must be found providing maximum protection with minimum colonial responsibility, preferably with one or more of the Great Powers acting as trustee on behalf of all the United Nations. "We have learned at great cost of hlood and treasure that we must fundamentally revise our thinking about Pacific security. We shall have to maintain, together with the Allies, bases where we can most effectively restrain a potential aggressor. We shall have to prepare ourselves to maintain a navy and air force adequate to defend these bases."

COMMANDER MISSING FAMOUS SUBMARINE WASHINGTON, Dpc. 2 The Navy Department- has announced that the submarine skipper LieutenantConitnander Dudley Morton, whose submarine wiped out a Japanese convoy, and who has stink at least 19 enemy ships, is missing. The announcement adds that the submarine Wahoo is overdue and must be presumed lost. A cablegram received on February 9 stated that Lieutenant - Commander Morton's submarine Wahoo, in a daring raid into Wewak Harbour, New Guinea, had sunk a Japanese convoy consisting of an 1800-ton destroyer and three ships, totalling 30.000 tons. In April it was reported that the Wahoo had returned from a second patrol on which a record of eight ships were sunk and two damaged, all in enemy waters.