WHAT WILL BE NEW ZEALAND'S ROLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 17, 16 February 1942, Page 4

WHAT WILL BE NEW ZEALAND'S ROLE

THE immediate future is pregnant with possibilities for the peoples, of the Pacific. The great events in the Northern waters occupy our attention day by day, now filling us with anxiety,, now thrilling us with the feats of heroism by our countrymen and our Allies. Japan, holding steadfastly to her avowed scheme of conquests has carried out in two and a half months military exploits which have astounded the world. Yet withal her treachery and her long planning have availed her little in the face of such heroic examples as General McAthur's defence in the Phillipines, of Chiang Kai Chek's brilliant retaliation at Changsha, of the tenacious stand in Singapore, and the splendid* sea-power of the limited Dutch fleet. Were it not for the fighting spirit exhibited by these isolated groups, the outlook for Democracy would indeed be a gloomy one. New Zealand must be fully appriase.d of the seriousness of the situation as far as she herself is concerned. The fact that Japan has Avon tempoiary mastery in the Pacific, should indicate that sho, is able thereby to move with freedom about the sea-lanes. Should she succeed in her present objectives, it is only natural that she should then turn southwards, casting her forces against the most extreme of British possessions, Australia and New Zealand. Already she has tne approach to such an undertaking well in hand,, as the landings on New Britain and Port Moresby indicate. But before she can concentrate upon this new undertaking, she must of necessity marshal her forces in strength, and sucn an action as that canr.ct be carried out until the annoying pockets of resistance in her previous conquests have been overcome. The key therefore to ultimate action in Australasian waters lies with the heroic defenders of the Phillipines, of oingapore, of Batavia, of Burma and the other lesser fronts where the Japanese have met with, continued opposition. There is a ■definite link with these fighting groups and the. people of New Zealand and Australia, for every organised point of opposition to the invading Japanese armies acts as a delaying actfion to the final south Pacific thrust. To- these stalwarts of many ra,ces, British, Americans, Malays, Chinese, Phillipinos and the hundred and one ra,ces in. the far-flung islands of the Ind.ies, we owe a debt of gratitude, for by their splendid stand in the face of vastly superior forces they have enabled the people of the Dominion to t#ke stock of the position and to prepare for possibilities, instead of becoming the victims of a : surprise attack which would have overwhelmed our meagre defence of yesterday.