“TO THE LAST DITCH”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 116, 20 May 1942, Page 5

“TO THE LAST DITCH”

AMERICA STANDING BY AUSTRALIA ARMY WINS MANY FRIENDS THEIR PRESENCE VALUED (Special Aus. Correspondent N.Z.) Sydney, May 18. “The United States has a big job to do. But the people of Australia can bet on it that we will see this struggle through to the last ditch.” This was the reassuring statement of the officer commanding the newest detachment of American forces to reach the Commonwealth. Uncle Sam's doughboys, as well as i his gobs, have ceased to be a novelty . in any Australian city. The best-fed, I best-dressed, and best-paid soldier in . the world is safely installed as the I most popular visitor to come to Australia. Feminine Australia hangs ’ on his arm and despite warnings of t the difficulties of gaining post-war L admittance to the United States, has [ led quite a few of him to the altar. Orderly Behaviour. Civilian Australia approves his ’ handsome appearance and orderly be- ’ haviour. ‘ Uniformed Australia is ’ envious of his equipment and monthly ■ pay cheque, but mighty pleased to have him on the local Japanese welJ coming committee. ■ Uncle Sam’s soldier himself is enjey- ; ing most of his experiences, though 3 he is a little puzzled by some. He likes the climate, likes the country, L and he obviously likes the girls. ’ Dull Sundays, too much mutton, ’ and not enough ice water are ■ strange local customs which, if they can’t be cured, must be en- ’ dured. A booklet published for the guid- . ance of the American soldier down • under warns him: “Don't be sucked , into a row. You are fighting alongside the Australians, not against ; them—that’s Tojo’s job.” A slow-spoken Southerner, with a r black eye indicating recent pugilistic ? activity, philosophised: “That’s all - very well, but once in a while a i happy Australian just has to show I how tough he is. Now, back home, j there’s only one guy in the whole I country ever wants to fight—and his ? name is Joe Louis.” Boost For Co-operation. I However, in the strategic areas > Australia, the American troops are ' occupying positions alongside the , A.I.F. and militia—and all parties are i appreciating the contact. Here, in ; the field, even more than in the hosr pital, and in centres of the cities, 1 Australian-American co-operation Is : getting the biggest boost. Allied headquarters may some day be renamed MacArthurstown. It , boasts a most imposing array of ) American brass hats. Everyone who I has had dealings with them agrees , that if Clemenceau had known General MacArthur and the South-west Pacific Command staff, he would have [ shelved his crack about war being too serious a business to be the con- ’ cern of soldiers. i General MacArthur starts work . early and finishes late. He is not readily accessible to the Press, but has been known to interview correspondents at 9.30 a.m. U.S. Army Transport. ; As much an object of interest as ’ the United States soldier is his army transport. Just when Australia got used to the jeep, the great American : blitz buggy, the United States Army produced the jeepette, a motor- ; scooter, whith, though not designed for racing purposes, is held to get there. Like the Kittyhawks which form the backbone of the Australian fighter plane defence, all the Amori- ■ can mechanised transport is giving ' splendid service under testing conditions. ; The Kittyhawks are newer, faster, and more heavily gunned than their predecessor on the assembly line, the Tomahawk, and played their first local feature role in Sydney’s week-end air-raid tests. They attacked many objectives and showed speed and manoeuvring ability to warrant confidence in their powers < to provide a warm welcome to vlsi- ■ tors. Their numbers, which are secret, are being steadily augmented. ; FOR THE CLASH AHEAD i MACARTHUR PREPARES Sydney, May 19. General MacArthur has spent recent days in conference with the ■ Chiefs of the Navy and Air Staffs ; and intelligence, officers, and the part his forces will play in the , event of another enemy excursion ; into the Southern Pacific has been 1 clearly marked, reports the Herald’s . Melbourne correspondent. The Commander-in-Chief has drawn 1 • to his staff the best tactical brains available in this theatre of war. The men advising him on the methods to be adopted in meeting and conquering ■ the Jaoanese have had the advantage of a close study of the enemy’s methods. The first concentration of Japanese forces north of Australia was mapped • by the Allies long before it moved ■ - south. The look-out has been intensii lied in the last few days since the j enemy's effort on the New Guinea . front dropped to spasmodic raids cn i Port Moresby. This is regarded in ' ’ some quarters as a sign that a second Japanese concentration has reached : i an advanced stage if it is not in fact ) sufficiently reinforced to undertake a . southern move now. Without disclosing the Allied plans, it may be stated that the coordination of all arms is the keynote of the preparations for meeting the new threat. The Air Force will be fully employed to back un both naval and land forces when the clash comes. THREAT TO AUSTRALIA I REALISED IN AMERICA (Recd. 10 p.m.) Washington, May IS. Fears expressed by Sir Keith Mur- ■ doch and the Sydney Morning Herald - that Washington is viewing Australia’s . position with too much complacency ‘ are widely publicised here. A high responsible quarter told the Australian I Associated Press that there is a • definite threat to Australia and in no way to underestimate Japanese strength. There is no official reaction to the Australian complaints, since they were uttered unofficially, but the foregoing closely corresponds with the official viewpoint in one of the must important departments concerned with Australian relations. There is a disposition in some • circles here to regard the complaints as an unjustified “newspaper campaign.” However, the reaction in other high quarters was that the Australians’ supplies arc inadequate as the enemy approaches, and there- ( fore they want to do the utmost to obtain more support. These authorities said the United States was doing

its utmost for the Australians in view of its responsibilities to them. (Recd. 10.30.) New York, May 18. Authorities say that if there was ever a lack of awareness of Australian danger that has been dissipated by Dr. Evatt’s mission and General MacArthur’s assignment t-o the South-west Pacific command. At the Pacific Council Dr. Evatt repeatedly emphasised the importance of the Australian front and also reiterated this message to the highest military and naval officials in a series of conferences. One source said: ‘‘Australiansshould not be misled by Mr. Roosevelt’s use of the word ‘check’ in the statement in which he declared that the Japanese southward advance had been checked. This does notamean defeated or thwarted but Jnerely halted temporarily.” A hi.e’h source here has been stressing lately that the Coral Sea battle was in no way conclusive or final, since it is expected that the Japanese will strike again with far heavier forces. This view coincides with Australia's and shows there is no complacency, although only the future can prove whether United States leaders have correctly judged the amount of material and reinforcements which should have been sent to Australia. To-night’s revela!ion that large American rein f orcements were sent to the British Isles is a reminder that the United States must divide its support among many fronts, despite the fact that many Australians undoubtedly feel the share of I material they obtained should have ) been larger. ' *'' .