SHADOWS OVER AUSTRALIA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 20, 23 February 1942, Page 4

SHADOWS OVER AUSTRALIA

THE widening shafts of the Nipponese Rising Sun,, have swiftly spread into the South Pacific. One by one the Japanese conquests of Malaya, and the Indies have been brought to triumphant conclusion. The delirium of success has reached intoxication point in the land of the cheery blossom, where the arrogant military class struct the streets of Tokio and Yokohama, and browbeat the people into more and still more sacrifices in the cause of greater patriotic glory. The first blows at the British possessions in Australasia have been struck, and the shock of the bombing of Darwin by three successive air armadas, has brought a sense of reality home to our cousins across the Tasman. No longer is the war a distant panorama, to be read about in papers, to be listened to over radios. No longer will it be a matter of farewells to troops,, bands playing, flags waving and the requisite picnic atmosphere created to cover the intense sadness of the event. War has come to Australia for the first time in h v er short history, and the nation is' Standing by to a,man. Eight millions standing in the path of the forces of aggression; yet eight millions of a race which has been renowned for its fighting prowess and resource. Just what the Japanese air-raid,s signify, is still a matter of conjecture, but the fact remains that if the usual enemy technique is followed, it is but a prelude to greater military operations.- Perhaps it may be a feint, in order to divert attention from other lands in the Pacific upon which the Japanese have designs—for instance, our own. The difficulties of fitting out an expedition to attack this country, are however, infinitely more obvious than of merely expanding the present thrust from Timor and; New Guinea. On the other hand the investment of Darwin, does not mean that a very serious blow has been struck the island continent, for Darwin is separated by thousands of miles of barren desert from the heart of the country. Only by a direct attack on the fertile and populous east coast can Japan hope to seriously embarrass the Commonwealth. Should such a large scale operation as that be contemplated then the prior investment of New Zealand as a base of supply is well on the cards. However, whatever the plans of the Japanese are at the present moment, the lands of the ; South Pacific definitely must present a tougher and more f

speculative proposition than anything she has attempted as yet. In the meantime America has recognised her part in the defence of these countries and the far-reaching plan of collective effort may be said to be now secretly perfect. The interesting feature of the near approach of danger is to note the complete absence of panic and flightiness, and the birth of a grim and fierce determination to meet the possible invader with all the force and courage at our command.