AUSTRALIA MUST BE READY FOR ANY EVENTUALITY

Southland Times, Issue 24650, 23 January 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIA MUST BE READY FOR ANY EVENTUALITY

(Received 1 a.m.) MELBOURNE, January 22. “An enemy landing may be expected in the New Guinea area today. It would not be unexpected,” said Mr A. S. Drakeford, the Australian Minister for Air. “I am issuing this warning,” he added, “because such a landing would be a prelude to an attack on the Australian mainland. The Japanese this morning resumed their attack on Rabaul.”

Mr Drakeford added that it was obvious that the Japanese had more than one aircraft carrier supported by covering naval forces and shore-based aircraft off the Bismarck Archipelago. “The people of Australia,” he said, “must be prepared for any eventuality.”

Mr John Curtin, the Australian Premier, said tonight: “Anybody in Australia who fails to perceive the immediate menace to Australia which the attack on Rabaul and the Bismarck Archipelago constitutes must be lost to all reality. The peril is nearer, clearer and deadlier than before.”

One of the objects of a Japanese landing in New Guinea would be to cut communications between Australia and Singapore by way of Torres Strait. Heavy fighting continues in Malaya, particularly in West Johore. A hundred aircraft took part in the raid on Singapore yesterday. Most of the damage was to residential property. The casualties were 304 killed and 625 wounded, 100 slightly.