FIFTH COLUMN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 27, 11 March 1942, Page 6

FIFTH COLUMN

POTENTIAL DANGER

ITALIAN COLONIES IN NORTH

AUSTRALIA

Australia lias a potential "fifth column" in Northern Queensland where the danger of invasion grows daily. , Italian soldiers on the canefields i and in several coastal towns are j predominant. They keep to tliem- c selves, and the majority .have never J cultivated a .sympathetic attitude jU? I Australia, In Ingiinm there are 9000 £ Italian-horn or persons of Italian ? descent in a population of 12,000. On the streets of this sugar-growing ' town, English is rarely heard. A Government official who studied the problem did not hesitate to estimate that 90 per cent of the Italians on the canefiedds would be disloyal to Australia if they had the opportunity. He warned that if Japanese troops forced a landing the opportunity -would be there. He pointed out that parachute troops could be hidden in the homes of Italian residents of coastal towns. Many of the Italians live near rail, road, and telegraph links between the north and the south, and might attempt to cut vital communications. They would be able to give important information to the enemy. Groups to be Reckoned With Many of the Italian families who have been for years in Australia are as loyal as their sons in the A.1.F., but the groups to be reckoned with are those thousands who refuse to talk, think, live or act as Australians. They are suspected of concealing i large stocks of modern rides from j the military authorities, thereby r flouting the Commonwealth Govern- - ment order that aliens must hand - over all weapons. The military has l' carried out intensive searches of .• homes suspected of being miniature i arsenals, but. though the houses . have been examined 'with expert 1 1 thoroughness, even to pulling down ! i s<;inc ci: the walls, no rilles have . ! been found. IJefore searching lh.: i military were given the rivst relii- ;ib\ information I hut arm- were be- - ing concealr;'l. I Axis' ralian residents in ilic- I!*s en! districts are urging drastic n;-- - (ion by 11 ic Government. They sug- - best iiiieminent of all enemy aliens e or compulsory enrolment in labour ' battalions. The Minister for the ? Army, Mr Forde. claimed that the - military 'lias the matter well in - hand."