WAR IN PACIFIC

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 3

WAR IN PACIFIC

ROLE OF DOMINION

BASE FOR OFFENSIVE

(0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday,

New Zealand's role in the Pacific war was discussed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, and the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, LieutenantGeneral E. Puttick, in addresses at Hawera. Both envisaged trie Dominion as a base for a future Allied offensive and stressed its importance from that aspect.

"We cannot win this war on our own shores," said Mr. Fraser, "but we can win it from our shores by making it possible for our Allies to set out from them, for in the reconquest of the Pacific for democracy, freedom and Christianity, important local and ordinary social and economic questions pale into insignificance compared with the defence of the country.

"We do not look upon New Zealand and Australia as places simply to be defended—they have to be defended—but we look upon them as the rallying ground of the democratic armed forces of the Pacific and the United States."

"We are not contemplating that our job is finished by prcviding for defence within the Dominion," said General Puttick. "It is necessary to train men to take their part when the time comes for the offensive against Japan. An all-out punch will be required and it is for that that the men must be trained."

New Zealand had a value far beyond its own selfish interests, added General Puttick. New Zealand was important to the Allied countries as a forward base for the concentration of forces for an offensive.