ONLY TEMPORARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1942, Page 3

ONLY TEMPORARY

Diversion of supplies FROM AUSTRALIA INWARD FLOW RESUMED. COUNTRY STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE. (.Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 11. Some of the war supplies which were diverted from Australia have already been replaced. A Government spokesman declared today that Australia's loss from the lag was only temporary, and she is now receiving those supplies which were agreed on between the United Nations when the Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Evatt, was abroad. The supplies included valuable raw materials as well as planes, tanks and other finished weapons of war. “Australia is stronger at this moment than ever before in her history,” said the spokesman. The criticism of the war supply position may result in another Federal Minister making a munitions tour abroad. The Minister of Supply, Mr Beasley, has been mentioned. Commenting on the utterances of the Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition, Mr W. M. Hughes, which resulted in revelations of the restricted American aid, the “Sydney Morning Herald” in a leader today says, “He told the Japanese nothing they did not know, and on the other hand he did his utmost to check their further progress by awakening Australia, to a sense of its peri) arising from the enemy approach on Port Moresby. In this he has succeeded, and the nation will thank him for his candour. “There has been, as Mr Hughes contends, too much secrecy of an unnecessary kind regarding the conduct of war operations on this side of the Pacific.” TOKIO CLAIMS HEAVY ALLIED NAVAL LOSSES ALLEGED. NEW YORK, August 10. The Tokio official radio says that Imperial headquarters announces sweeping claims in the naval battle of the Solomons. “Units of the Japanese fleet,” it says, “initiated violent attacks against a British and American fleet off the Solomons on Friday, which is’ still in. progress. As far as is known, the

Japanese navy has sunk one battleship of unknown type, two cruisers of the Australia class and two of the Astoria class, at least three further cruisers of unknown type, and also at least four destroyers and more than 10 transports. Furthermore, three cruisers of the Minneapolis . class, at least two destroyers, and more than one transport were heavily damaged. The Japanese air force shot down at least 32 fighters and nine dive-bomb-ers. AMERICAN MARINES NO NEWS OF PARTICIPATION. WASHINGTON, August 10. In connection with the possible participation of United States marines, high marine officials said it was wellknown that marines specially trained for amphibious operations were stationed in that general area; however, they were so far unable to reveal whether they had participated in this specific action. These marines have self-propelled landing boats and also tanks and artillery.