PERIL SURVIVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24877, 26 April 1944, Page 6

PERIL SURVIVED

AUSTRALIAN SECURITY EARLY TRIALS OF WAR (Reed. 5.35 p.m.* WASHINGTON, April 24 In a formal statement to the American people the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. Curt in, who is in the United States on his way to London, made the following points:— (1) In no campaign of the war has there been such an unbroken run of successes at so little cost as in New Guinea, where the Japanese have not had the initiative since the Allied offensive began- in September, 1942. General Mac Arthur has fully exploited the 3000mile front from Sonrabaya to Bougainville. The Japanese are estimated to have lost 100,000 to 115,000 men, 140 to 170 warships, 200 to 270 merchantmen, and 5000 to 6000 aircraft. Australian Lend-lease (2) General Mac Arthur's position could have been one of delicacy fraught with the possibility of trouble and difficulty if discretion and diplomacy had not been employed on both sides. (3) Australian lend-lease expenditure in the current year would reach 320.000,000 dollars. Mr. Curtin said; "The Australian people have emerged from mortal peril thanks to merciful Providence, the aid Of great Allies and their own heroic efforts. The purpose of my visit to the United States is to confer with the President. I am returning for a longer stay on my way home irom London. "My pre-eminent duty as bead of the Australian Government is to express to the Government and people of the United States the profound gratitude of the Australian people for the assistance rendered them." Part In Struggle

3lr. Curt in gave a picture of Australia's war effort. He said that when Australia entered the war with Britain, in September, 1939, it concentrated on the maximum contributions it could make to the fighting fronts overseas. Ships of the Royal Australian Navy served on the seven sens. Australian land forces totalling 122,000 fought in North Africa, Greece, Crete and Syria. Under the Empire air scheme more than 20,000 Australians were sent abroad. After reviewing the early Japanese successes and developments which made it necessary to recall the Australian imperial Force, Mr. Curtin said: Shortage of Resources "With Singapore lost the Australian defences were inadequate to defend Australia as the main base against an enemy with command of the sea and air. The small Australian na\al tehees were divided between different areas; the militia < forces were only partly trained and very short of modern equipment; and we lacked air support, possessing 110 fighters whatever and only about"so bomber and reconnaissance planes. No country faced greater danger with less resources than Australia. _ "The New Zealand Government m March, 1942, proposed the establishment of a Pacific War Council and the appointment of an American supremo commander in the South-west Pacific area. Both suggestions were adopted. Mr. Curtin then reviewed strategical operations beginning with the Coral Sea Battle and continuing on until early this year.

HOSTAGES IN FRANCE LAVAL ORDERS ARRESTS SEQUEL TO ALGIERS TRIALS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 21 The Vichy militia, under Joseph Darnland, Laval's Secretary - General for the Maintenance of Public Order, arrested a number of relatives or members of the French Committee of National Liberation, including those of General Catroux, as hostages for the safety of those accused in the Algiers treason trials, stated the Vichy radio. "These people," the rudio added, "will be made responsible for the fate of such Frenchmen, or people under French protection, who might be tried at Algiers." M. Francois de Menthon, Commissioner for Justice on the French Committee, whose family, with those of other members of the Committee, were arrested, broadcast a warning to magistrates in France and in particular to judges of the special tribunal that they were taking upon themselves grave responsibilities by passing sentence on behalf of Germans on Frenchmen fighting for France. The trial of 41? members of the French Phalange opens to-day in Alters. FRENCH CIVIL RULE PLAN AFTER LIBERATION (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 2t An ordinance for the organisation oi public powers in France, which will shortly be published, provides for a meeting of a National Constitutional Assembly to be held at the latest one year after the total liberation of French territory, states an agency correspondent in Algiers. Meanwhile the present consultative Assembly will go to France and be transformed into a provisional representative Assembly, ibis will be accomplished by elections held in each Department. The Committee of National Liberation will hand over its powers to this Assembly, which will elect a President for the provisional Government. READY TO STRIKE 1,000.000 LOYAL FRENCH NEW YORK, April 24 More than 1,000,000 Frenchmen have organised 16 resistance groups and are awaiting orders to strike in the rear of the German armies as soon as the invasion begins. This was stated by the leader of the French underground movement, who has arrived in Algiers from France, reports the New York HeraldTribune correspondent. The Allies have been sending arms for the underground forces in recent months and are still sending them, said the loader. However, only 5 per cent of the underground army are capable of effectively using the weapons. The armed underground movement includes all shades of opinion from Rightist to Leftist, in addition to two illegal trade unions. 1 hoy publish three large newspapers, two of which have a combined circulation of 550.000 in Paris alone. The great majority of the leaders are young, their ages ranging from 25 to 40. They insist that they are already tieing up 10 Nazi divisions • and will divert more from the second front if more weapons arrive.