VULNERABLE SPOT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1929, Page 7

VULNERABLE SPOT

A USTItALIA’S NORTH-WEST

SYDNEY, April 11

The great north-west of Australia, where the search for the Southern Cross has been proceeding’ so vigorously, is regarded by many as the continent’s most vulnerable spot. Sir James Connelly, formerly Agent-General for Western Australia in London, says that the difficulties of the search showed the folly of the policy pursued in the development of that vast area. Sir James said that when he was in Jjondon he wrote to “The Times” advocating the establishment of a naval base near Napier-Broome Bay in preference to Singapore, lie mentioned that Lord Kitchener, a few years before the war, during a visit to Australia, said that Kimberley was the vulnerable spot in Australia, and should be guarded and peopled. After the publication of the letter, said Sir' James, lie received a report from the late Admiral Sir Percy Scott, in which the Admiral said: “The British Government are damned fools. My only hope is that your Government are not fools altogether.” Declaring that population was the surest, safest and cheapest defence, Sir Percy took a section round the coast from Wyndham to Jircome, and advocated the establishment at 200 miles intervals, of aeroplane and submarine bases, beginning near the Drysdale Mission Station with another at Port George IV. Mission This, lie said, would not only establish military centres, but populate the country. The approach of an enemy would he known four days before its arrival, and it would he impossible for an enemy to land. Sir James said that with Sir Percy Holts permission he sent the report to the Commonwealth Government in Melbourne, wlijpre it was doubtless pigeon-holed. That section of the north-west was the vulnerable snot all right, said Sir James, and it should he opened up. A railway should connect with the Queensland railways. If only the money that had been spent on defence had been directed to the north-west not only would the present disaster have been prevented, hut a military post would have been created to guard Australia from the East.

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