Late News “PREPARE FOR BAD NEWS”

Southland Times, Issue 24655, 29 January 1942, Page 5

Late News “PREPARE FOR BAD NEWS”

WARNING GIVEN TO AUSTRALIA

(Rec. 1 a.m.) PERTH, January 28. In a speech at a civic reception at Fremantle today, the Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, warned the nation to prepare for bad news. He mentioned no particular theatre of war. He said he was sure that Australians would be able to experience with stoic endurance news of a reverse here or a defeat there. This was vastly different from losing the war. The mass exodus of probably 70,000 people from the Northern Queensland coastal belt and the Gulf area is envisaged by the State Government, which has requested the voluntary evacuation of women and children from possible danger zones. The majority of the evacuees will move from three cities, Cairns, Townsville and Charters Towers. The total population of the three is 67,000.

The Australian Army Minister (Mr F. M. Forde) stated that no further news had been received of the situation in the Rabaul area where Australian troops are holding out in the wild and almost inaccessible country of the island of New Britain. Communications are difficult but every effort is being made to obtain news.

It has now been ascertained that four of the 11 Japanese transports which were attacked by Royal Australian Air Force bombers in Rabaul harbour were put out of action and that others were damaged. Australian troops are now moving into position in New Guinea to withstand the Japanese threat.