JAPANESE FORCES

Grey River Argus, 4 June 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE FORCES

Increase North of Australia

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.i SYDNEY, June 3. Australians should not be carried away by recent successes of the Allied armies, declared General Sir T. Blarney, when interviewed. Although Australia’s immediate position was infinitelyi better than a year ago, the prevailing spirit of optimism was not justified by what so far had been attained in this theatre. However, today, Australia was completely equipped to meet any emergency, while a yfear ago. she did not have even enough rifles. “The Japanese are definitely going to make things difficult for us," he said. “They are increasing thenforces all along the outer edge of our Pacific defences, and they are building strong bases. While in New Guinea, we now hold the whole southeastern area, and our’ situation there is very much stronger than it was, so also is that of the enemy in the portions of the island which are still his. We face a long difficult task in finally getting him out.” Sir T. Blarney emphasised the good relations existing between the American and Australian troops, and the close co-operation between, the American and Australian staffs... Reciprocal aid given in Fiji to United States forces is estimated to amount to some eight hundred thousand pounds in a full year, according to a report from the colony. Large items of aid provided were labour, transport, and timber. Another aspect of Fijian aid is the despatch of rubber to Australia and New Zealand. MELBOURNE, June 3. One of the American airmen who bombed Tokio on April 18 last year, is in Australia, on his way home on leave. He is Captain Edgar Mcllroy of Texas. ~ , . . Describing the Tokio raid, lie said. “Frankly we were scared. We dropped" our eggs and beat it tor China.” He himself baled out when his plane ran out of petrol. Helped by Chinese he made his way 10 Chungking, where he was decorated bv Kai-shek, with the Order of the Celestial Clouds. Since then he has been fighting on the Burma front.