ANZAC AREA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24838, 11 February 1942, Page 4

ANZAC AREA

AID FROM AMERICA ADMIRAL LEARY'S VISIT IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS (Special) WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. Vice-admiral Herbert F. Leary. of the United States Navy, the newly appointed commander of the Anzac Force, who is making a tour of the areas under his control, spoke with enthusiasm in an interview of his new command, and paid a high tribute to the fighting qualities of the men of New Zealand and Australia. "We consider the New Zealanders and Australians to be reaLfighting men, and'l don't know anybody with whom I would rather be," Admiral Leary saidi "New Zealanders and Australians have the stuff in them to fight. The last war and this war have proved that, and there is nothing I would like better than commanding the Anzac Force." The admiral said that his appointment had come suddenly, and at the moment he was feeling his way. While in New Zealand he had been conferring with the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, the Chief of the Naval Staff (Commodore W. E. Parry), and the heads of the army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He planned to hold similar conferences in Australia. Asked where he intended making his headquarters, Admiral Leary said he had not yet decided. He was looking over the whole area firsthand had not made up his mind. "The only message I can bring Is that I want to assure everybody that America is fully united behind the Governments of Australia and New Zealand in prosecuting the war, and in seeing that we

make a go of It," he said. "This is heartfelt and true. The American people, since the attack on Pearl Harbour, have come to a realisation of what it all means, and there is no question that the whole country is behind the war effort.

"We were slow in preparing, and it is going to take time before our effort can be felt," he continued. "A great many plans are under way, however, and they will be effective when they come in." America's War Production ,

A vivid pictureof American industry being geared for war production was painted by Admiral Leary. He said it would be an inspiring sight for any New Zealanders to see the factories getting under way in the United States to supply arms, war planes and equipment generally for the Allies. Starting from scratch, it would take time before this equipment arrived in flood, but meanwhile we must have patience and hold the line until the equipment got here. " I think it is a good idea from a competitive point of view." he said, when asked to comment upon the policy of bringing the combined naval forces of the New Zealand and Australian areas under a single command. "Americans, Australians and New Zealanders will all do their best and not let the other fellow get ahead. The Spirit of Unity ".We Americans have an excellent feeling for the Australian and New Zealand people. They are as close to America as anyone could be, speaking the same language and holding the same ideals. No question arises, therefore, of a difficulty in war-time of operating together." Discussing his New Zealand visit, Admiral Leary said it was realised that it was not always possible to get equipment as' soon as it was wanted. That difficulty prevailed everywhere, however, and he thought the situation Was moving in the right direction. , "We will do what we can," Admiral Leary concluded, when referring to the immediate task of stopping the Japanese advances, "and I don't know anyone I would rather have with me than Australians and New Zealanders." Admiral Leary's staff includes Captain J. C. Jones, chief of staff; Captain J Hi Carson, operations officer; Commander R. C. Hudson, Commander J. J. Levesseur, Lieutenant-commander J. D. L. Grant and Lieutenant R. L. Taylor. ON GUARD LX)MINIGN DEFENCE PEARL HARBOUR LESSON (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 10. Australia and New Zealand are fully aware that the Japanese may be planning some surprise such as the Pearl Harbour outrage and instead of continuing their pressure against the Netherlands East Indies, may turn suddenly and strike .directly at the ports and cities both of Australia and New Zealand. . This comment is contained in an interview with the Chicago Sun correspondent, Mr H. R. Knickerbocker, who with other American correspondents has arrived in Sydney. Mr Knickerbocker said that the great chain of United States and Allied islands across the Pacific had been reinforced and fortified, and the American forces had established an uninterrupted line of transportation between the factories of the United States and the battlefront of Asia. The Japanese, he added, had seized practically all the important approaches to the Netherlnds East Indies and were in a position to begin the conquest of Java and Sumatra. They already had virtual control of Borneo and appeared to control the Macassar Strait. Their aim now was to get command of Torres Strait in order to sever the line of transportation to the East Indies. The Japanese would not wait much longer to attempt to cut vital trans-Pacific communications. All these possibilities had been included in the strategic plans made by the American authorities, declared Mr Knickerbocker.