PACIFIC WAR STRATEGY

Southland Times, Issue 24682, 2 March 1942, Page 5

PACIFIC WAR STRATEGY

PLANS ALTERED BY ALLIES AUSTRALIA THE MAIN BASE (Rec. 9 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 1. The War Council, yesterday, decided on important changes in Allied strategy in the Pacific war. The changes, details of which must remain secret, mean that Australia has become the main Pacific base of the united nations. Representatives of New Zealand and other united nations participated in the War Council discussions. It is expected that the discussions will result in even closer consultation and co-operation between Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand representatives, though disagreeing with the Commonwealth on some minor detail, were in complete 1 agreement that a united front must be built up against Japan m the Southern Pacific. . The Australian Army Minister, Mr F. M. Forde, announced today that all the Northern Territory had now been placed under military control. The Australian Air Minister, Mr A. S. Drakeford, announced that the Royal Australian Air Force attacked enemy positions in New Britain on Friday, bombing buildings and an aerodrome near Rabaul and starting a fire which was visible for more than 30 miles away They encountered intense antiaircraft fire, including “flaming onions,” but Japanese planes failed to intercept the Royal Australian Air Force bombers, which all returned safely. CANADIAN INTEREST A message from New York states that the Ottawa correspondent of The New York Times says the Canadian General Staff and other High Officials are switching from the fixed idea that the war must be fought and won in Europe and are beginning to turn their attention to the defence of the Pacific coast and ultimate participation in Pacific strategy.

It has not been easy, the correspondent states, to shake established military conception, but insistent demands from British Columbian members of Parliament and from the Pacific Coast Press have weakened the original resistance to a change in strategy. Thus beginnings have now been made toward putting the west coast in a position to defend itself. c j c ,v. As a first measure of defence the curfew has been imposed on all persons of Japanese origin, who are required to surrender automobiles, cameras, radios, firearms and ammunition, and who also must leave all protected areas forthwith. In addition, a security commission has been appointed to handle the transfer of 23,000 Japanese from British Columbia to the interior of the country. , , The Pacific situation has also reawakened interest in the long-deferred plan for budding a highway through British Columbia from the United States to Alaska. American engineers are reported to be surveying possible routes with wholehearted Canadian cooperation.