NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 223, 22 September 1942, Page 5

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

CRITICISM IN UNITED STATES (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.J Sydney, Sept. 21. “We are still on the defensive in the South-west Pacific despite the fact that our commanders are resolved in favour of an offensive strategy," says the military correspondent of the New York WorldTelegram, complaining that “official beasts of Allied supremacy in this area are premature. “The indications are that we are not outmanned ei.her in the Solomons or New Guinea,” he says. “Why then, after six weeks of preparations in the Solomons and many months in New Guinea, are we still unable to prevent enemy offensives and unable to roll them back as planned?” There are many explanations, some of which are military secrets, says the corresDonden.. yet one thing wrong that is publicly known is the divided command. “The closely related front is split in two.” he savs. “That is unfair to General MacArthur and Admirals Nimitz and Ghormley, any one of whom is qualified on his record fori the unified command. Why then cannot the United Nations have a united command in th n South-west Pacific, as originally demanded by Australia and pledged by Washington.” In Australia there is some reflection of this American opinion that the United Nations have not done as well in th? South-west Pacific war theatre as they should have done. The Australian people would only be satisfied by the facts about New Guinea, not mere assurances, declared Mr. J. P. Abbott, a member of the House of Representatives. He questioned whether the Army Minister (Mr. Forde) had the dynamic drive necessary for his nosition and whether he was prepared to deal ruthlessly with anyone who blunder-! ed or failed in his duty. “The first plain fact the Govern-) ment and the military high command' should realise is that the Australian people are mystified and deeply worried over the situation in New Guinea,” Mr. Abbott said. He also asked if it was true that the Australian troops in New Guinea were not adequately trained and equipped for jungle fighting. The Australian people | would be satisfied onlv when they saw “the infiltrators themselves being infiltrated and driven back across the humn of New Guinea.” Civilians could not understand why the Aus'ralians fighting in the Owen Stanley Range w r re not given intensive jungle training long ago. said the Deputy-Leader of Federal Oppo ition (Mr. W. M Hughes). "Our men’s equipment must be lighten'd, their uniforms dyed green, and their rations compressed. They must be Jed by men who understand jungle tactics, who if they are ou flanked will remember that if the Japanese are between them and Port More«h> the Australians are between th n fcnemv and his base and so can threaten his rear, attack his supply column, and make him uncomfortable until forces from Port Moresby can overwhelm him.”