SECRET MOVEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24836, 9 February 1942, Page 5

SECRET MOVEMENTS

PACIFIC THEATRE PLANNING FOR OFFENSIVE? AMERICA'S INCREASING AID (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 8. "I don't suggest that the Allies will tamely allow themselves to be beaten right back upon Australia before thinking of an offensive," said the Minister of the Army, Mr F. M. Forde, speaking at the launching of another Tribal class destroyer at a New South Wales dockyard yesterday. "Many great movements, of which I cannot speak, are even now under way. Many great decisions, secretly made, are being as secretly carried out. We may yet be the principal offensive base from which ultimately the Allies will embark upon the reconguest of Free Asia and the Free Pacific *' * Praising the United States Government for aid already given, Mr Forde said that few details could be released now, but ample evidence of American aid would be apparent" before many months; The Australian shipbuilding industry, Mr Forde added, must not be allowed to fade away as after the last war. The industry must endure, as it was necessarily interwoven with a long-range defence policy for Australia. . AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE PREPARING TO MEET INVASION RUGBY, Feb. 6. Commenting on the conference of the Premiers of Australian States, The Times says: "Whatever views may be held about the probability of a Japanese invasion of Australia, it is a possibility for which that country must be prepared; As with German invasion of Britaini the more complete the preparations* made to resist, the less is the attempt likely to be made." The Tinies adds: " The defence of the isjand continent, with its huge stretch of uninhabited and largely uninhabitable coastal areas, is a tremendous task for a population of 7,000,000 people with poor communications between different centres. This perhaps cuts both ways, for the invader, even after he had made a landing, would find himself faced with great difficulties, of supply and communication. The Australians, however, profiting by the experience of others, are not counting, upon the enemy's incapacity to overcome these difficulties, but are getting ready to offer ah active, determined resistance. They have one great advantage in the superb quality of their air force, which, as it is, has already done excellent work iii the outlying defences. "Everyone in this country will share the Australian hope that the enemy will be checked before he is able to launch an attack' upon the Commonwealth, but the position will remain precarious until the British and United States fleets have, regained control of the South-west Pacific." CONSULATE AT DARWIN -AMERICAN ESTABLISHMENT ■:'/' : '~:.: W ',\ 1: ■ WASHINGTON, (Rec/ 9.50 pSri.) ;;..' : ; ;:, .Feb...:7.;.The State Department announced today the establishment of a United States Consulate at Darwin. Mr Percy Ellis and Mr Robert Grinnel have been assigned as -vice-consuls, both being transferred from Singapore to Darwin.v ■ -. Mr Clayson Aldridge; from Rome, ■h as been appointed American Consul at Sydney. ■ RESCUED FROM MALAYA 2000 IMPERIAL TROOPS F ' - LONDON, Feb. 7. Two thousand imperial troops were rescued by British patroi craft from Japanese-occupied areas in Malaya. The patrol boats made dashes up the coast by night and carried the men to Singapore Island. AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES - RESULT OF MALAYAN BATTLE (Rec, 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 8. The Minister for the Army (Mr F. M. Forde) announced that the total A.I.F. casualties in Malaya were 1187, of which 160 were killed in action, 23 died of wounds, 359 were wounded, and 645 are missing. "The campaign in Malaya will go down in Australian history as one of the most heroic actions fought by our men," Mr Forde said. ''Their task was a superhuman one. The very great majority of the men are in Singapore continuing the fight against the Japanese."