SECRECY VITAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1942, Page 3

SECRECY VITAL

REGARDING WAR PLANS IN PACIFIC MEETINGS OF AUSTRALIAN WAR CABINET. MR CURTIN NOT TALKING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, June 12. Secret meetings of the Australian War Cabinet and the War Advisory Council have now been held. Though matters which may vitally affect the whole trend of the warin the Pacific have been discussed, the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, has declined to make any announcement. It is reliably reported that the Japanese have been able to gain prior knowledge of certain Allied plans in recent weeks, hence those responsible for the conduct of the war in the South-West Pacific are anxious to discourage speculation which may give hints to the enemy of new plans. The Minister for the Army, Mr Forde, has spoken of the possibility of “counter action,” though notions of an early general offensive are scouted. The possibility of operations of a specific and limited character are not being overlooked. “Before the time is ripe for a fullscale offensive, there will be opportunities for minor attacks in order to ensure that the Japanese strength shall be distributed around her wide perimeter and concentration at any one point made more difficult,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald” editorially. “It is our task to see that no such opportunity is lost on the extensive southern edge of Japan’s new frontier, but the first intimation to the world will be of action taken and not action pending.” '