WHAT IS A LIBERTY TOWN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 41, 22 January 1943, Page 4

WHAT IS A LIBERTY TOWN

Sir, —The attached clipping from "In Print" puts into words a question which must have been in the minds of many people. "In Print's" comments are. therefore worthy of emphasis. Yours etc., ANDREW McLEAN. The article in question reads:— Most of our readers will have enjoyed, the vigorous language of the threats uttered by Admiral Halsey, commander of the Naval Forces in the South-West Pacific, against Hirohito, Tojo, Yamamoto.

Much less pleasing, however, was the Admiral's answer to a question as to whether "there was a good liberty town in the offing."' To this he replied, "Liberty for the. boys? Yes, we will by-pass all smaller towns and let them loose in Tokio. That Avill be a liberty town they'll really enjoy." If Admiral Halsey means by this that the American forces will have liberty to rape and murder and plunder, then we must remind him that these are the principles of the Fascists themselves, not of the. antiFascist nations. We must utterly smash the military resistance of the Japanese. German and other Fascist Powers. We shall ruthlessly punish those responsible for the crimes of the present period. But there is. no room for bitterness and. there must, be no talk of revenge against the great bulk of Japanese people^—the workers and peasants and other toilers.

These are themselves the dupes and victims of Japanese strategy. When Japanese Fascism is. destroyed we must help these people to start out. in a new and better way of life. There must be no Versailles, no sowing of dragons' teeth such as took place after the last w r ar. A just and democratic peace, based on the interests of the peoples of all lands.. This is what we are fighting for, Admiral Halsey. Let no one forget it.