GRIM WARNING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20876, 31 August 1942, Page 3

GRIM WARNING

COMPLACENT VIEWS AUSTRALIAN OUTLOOK MINISTER OUfSPOKEN (10.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 31 “If we are not careful we will probably suffer a baptism of fire on our soil before the best in us is brought to .the surface.” This grim warning was given the Minister of the army, Mr. F. M Forde, when he hit out strongly against complacency. “We have beer, getting things too easily in Australia," he continued. “We are too sanguine of success. No good purpose can be served by talking glibly in Australia about opening a second front. Our job is to maintain the front already open in the north and it is going to be no easy task.” Japan had resources and manpower equal to Germany, said Mr Ford. She also had under her control in the conquered territories labour "esources vastly exceeding those available to Germany. Her material resources were virtually inexhaustible. Japan could throw into action an army as large almost as the well-equipped German Army, providing she could control her lines of communication. However, the Allied position in the south Pacific had substantially improved, due to the assistance of the United States and Britain, increased home production, the expansion of the defence forces, and .the return ' of the Australian Imperial Force.