NEW STAGE IN WORLD WAR

Southland Times, Issue 24654, 28 January 1942, Page 5

NEW STAGE IN WORLD WAR

U.S. TROOPS LAND IN NORTH IRELAND

WARM WELCOME GIVEN (P.A.) WASHINGTON, January 26. Mr H. L. Stimson, United States Secretary for War, announced that United States troops commanded by Major-General Russell T. Hartle had landed in Northern Ireland. They were welcomed by the Gover-nor-General (the Duke of Abercorn), the Secretary for Air (Sir Archibald. Sinclair) and the premier of Northern Ireland (Mr F. Andrews). Crowds warmly greeted the men wno marched through the streets to the tune of "Marching Through Georgia played by a famous regimental band. They received a warm welcome from Sir Archibald Sinclair, who addressed them on behalf of the Government. He said: “From the prairies and teeming cities of the North-West you have com ® many thousands of miles across land and sea to these islands —not to sojourn among strangers, but to find yourselves among friends, who are grateful for your presence. Your comrades in the British fighting services, who know the mettle of the American soldier, will be proud to share with you the place of honour in the battle. , “Here, perhaps, you may join with, us in withstanding the assaults of our common enemy on this island fortress. From here, assuredly, you will sally forth with us to carry the war into his territory and free the oppressed peoples of Europe. “Your safe arrival here marks a new stage in the world war. It is not an isolated manoeuvre of the war, but part of the general disposition of our resources, which are being made under the supreme responsibility of your President and our Prime Minister. It is a gloomy portent for Mr Hitler, nor will its significance be lost on Tojo. “The Philippines, the Dutch East Indies and British territories in the Far East are being ravaged. Australia,

whose people have given so much and whose soldiers, sailors and airmen have fought so bravely stands in peril. PART OF GREAT PLAN “All this is in the minds of the responsible leaders, who are planning our joint strategy, and your welcome arrival here, today, reveals a part of one great plan to smash the dictator Powers wherever they may be found. “Many of you come from /great cities endowed with all the material blessings of a robust civilization to experience the rigours of camp life. Youmay find that your new life is hard, with fewer compensations than you have been used to, but you will remember you are now in the combat zone. We will strive to repay you by the warmth of our welcome, “But your chief reward will be the knowledge that you are doing your duty in this latest phase—let us strive to make it the final phase—of that struggle which Burke described as the eternal conflict between law and arbitrary power. IMPRESSIVE VANGUARD “It needs no more than a single glance to confirm me in my belief in the martial quality of the American troops. In physique, in smartness of turnout and in excellence of equipment you are an impressive vanguard of American military might. Such are the men under the heroic leadership of General MacArthur in the Philippines, who are punishing an enemy greatly more numerous than themselves.

“Fighting shoulder to shoulder with the British Army and with the other valiant armies of the united Powers you will assuredly bring victory over the tyranny of the Axis Powers and Vindicate the com-

mon cause of justice and freedom.” The physique of the men impressed the onlookers. The men were subsequently transported to camps prepared for their reception by British soldiers. Many said that they were glad to return to the land from which their forebears had emigrated and. to take part in the fight against Hitlerism. “We are not here to play soldiers; we are here to fight,” they declared. They were escorted across the Atlantic by units of the British and American navies and they did not know their destination until the shores of Ireland were in sight. There was some slight enemy air activity over Northern Ireland this afternoon. It is stated that the air defences went into 'action but that no incidents were reported. The United States troops comprise several thousand infantrymen. They crossed the Atlantic escorted by British and American warships without incident. They are well trained and welli armed with most modern weapons.