HOW TO “TAKE” AUSTRALIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 307, 30 December 1942, Page 6

HOW TO “TAKE” AUSTRALIA

POCKET GUDE FOR I S. TROOPS. Washington, Oct. 25. The War and Navy Departments have issued a "Pocket Guide to Australia,” which is being distributed to the troops. The booklet states that Australians have much in common with Americans. They are a pioneer people, believe in personal freedom, and love sports. The Guide adds: “There is one thing to set straight, right off the bat. You are not in Australia to save helpless people from the savage Jap. Maybe there "are fewer people in Australia than in New York City, but their soldiers in this war and the last have built up a great fighting record. “Recently in a Sydney bar an American soldier turned to an Australian and said, "Well, Aussie, you can go home now. We’ve come over to save you.’ "The Aussie cracked back, ‘Have you? I thought you were a refugee from Pearl Harbour.’ "In a left-handed way the United States had something to do with settlement in Australia. England in the early days used to send her surplus convicts to America, but after their independence the British had to find some other place to which to send convicts from the overcrowded goals. Nearly half of the first group landed in Australia were prisoners—men on the wrong side of politics, or in debt, or tangled with harsh laws. "The Australians are proud of their British heritage, but still like to run their own business. They take great oride in their independence and resent being called a colony. They think themselves a great nation on their own hook, which they are. It is natural that they should find themselves drawn closer to Americans because of many things in common. "You will find Australians an outdoors people, breezy, and very democratic, with no respect for stuffed shirts—their own or anyone else’s.”