AID WANTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 115, 19 May 1942, Page 5

AID WANTED

PLEA BYJ)R. EVATTS VERY FRANK SPEAKING ’ POSITION OF AUSTRALIA ;- (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) e London, May 17. h Dr. H. V. Evatt, Australia’s Mini- iliter oi External Affairs, who is L now in London, broadcast to the people of Britain to-night at their peak listening time after the 1) q o’clock news. He said that he wished to speak very frankly about the war as an Australian ,s saw it, and emphasised the pre•s sent danger to Australia and New y Zealand. “It is such,” he declared, n “that if we lose more in the i, Pacific, we may lose all.” e Dr. Evatt recalled events from the - outbreak of war, and said that from that moment Australia had recognised its responsibilities as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations and to the civilisation dependent upon it. Without question, without thought of the cost involved, without dwelling upon the fact that the first Great War cost her 60,000 Ilves and sacrifice and suffering beyond telling, Australia again rushed to the assistance of the Mother Country. Dr. Evatt quoted the well-known - words of the Australia poet, “Banjo” Patterson: They came to show to all the world j That kinship conquers space, e And he who fights the British Isles j Must fight the British race. 1 As before, the cost had been heavy, ; Dr. Evatt continued, but as before, the cost was never counted. He ex- • pressed his confidence that Britain ! TWO SHIPS DAILY ~ y (Recd. 7 p.m.) Washington, May 17. e The Maritime Commission announced that 30 cargo vessels will be launched on Friday, on the occasion of National Maritime Day, in the greatest mass launching of merchantmen since the United States’ vast shipbuilding programme 1 began. Maritime Day marks the beginning of the two-ships-daily production rate for American shipyards, which are now launching one ship daily. >’ would never forget these facts, just as Australians would never forget ’ what the people of Britain had done for them. Australia’s admiration for the work of Britain for freedom’s sake remained the same as in 1940, but much had altered In Australia since Japan struck her first terrible blow at Pearl Harbour on December 7 last. Gateway to Australia. “At this very moment,” he said, "the Japanese are in possession of vital strategic points in and near New Guinea, 'these are as much the gateway to Australia as Calais and Dunkirk and Boulogne are to Britain. The danger of a Japanese invasion is real.” A week ago a southward move was made by Japanese air and naval units covering a large number of transports. That move was repulsed, but it was certain to be renewed in greater strength. What the Battle of Britain had meant to the people of Britain, the Battle of Australia meant to the Commonwealth. That battle had already 1 begun. Resources in Australia had 5 been organised to the utmost, but al- ■ though the position had improved in ' the last few months certain aid was urgently required now to defeat the ; enemy. : Under the present war organisation, < Britain and the United States jointly ] controlled the flow of supplies to Aus- < tralia and for every other theatre of : war. Only they, and they acting to- r gether, could allocate the aid Aus-' i tralia needed. s “The situation is this,” Dr. Evatt concluded: “If full-scale in- x vasion took place, we know that { Britain and the United States ‘ would fly to our rescue, but a J comparatively small expenditure of resources to-day will make invasion impossible and secure Aus- ■ tralia as a base.”