VULNERABLE NORTH

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 243, 15 October 1942, Page 6

VULNERABLE NORTH

THREAT OF JAP. INVASION. AUSTRALIA'S PREPARATIONS.

P.A. Special.

SYDNEY, Oct. 7.

"Japan's biggest troubles at the moment lie in the South-west Pacific. She must immobilise Australia and New Zealand, for she cannot afford to have bases, 1 armies, and air strength grow up here and menaee ner great island empire." This view, expressed by one of Austraiia's best kiiown v/ar commentators is expanded, perhaps by the majority of Australians, to a belief that the enemy's forces are determined on a direct invasion of the Commonwealth. General Tojo, Premier of Japan, has reinforced their apprehensions by his threat that the Japanese will "be in Ferth before Christmas." But, if and when Japan decides to hazard direct attacks against Australia, she will find a nation mightily prepared — whenever she may choose to strike. It is generally conceded that the most likely area for invasion is the extreme north, within 500 rniles of several strongly-held Japanese bases. Aeross these waters, far from Allied naval bases, an enemy invasion fleet could move with relative security under the protection of its land-based aircraft. While Allied air forces in the north would cbrtainly offer strenuous opposition, odds against the Japanese would be much less than should they attempt to occupy almost any other part of Austraiia's vast coastline. This threat, with its focal point at Darwin, impelled the building of Austraiia's north-south highway — one of the world 's great road-building achievements, linking the operational areas of the north with the production centres of the south. Joining this road is the equally ereat but

lesser-known east-west road, running inland across the Australian desert from the Queensland coast. Along both these highways, should the Japanese northern invasion threat be translated to reality, would be rushed reinforcements and supplies to drive out the invader. Australia early recognised the threat to her north. Numerous aerodromes dot the strategic areas, with planes manned by Australian and American crews. Building of new airfields here is a first priority work. Kittyhawk fighter pilots have wrought such havoc among Japanese aircraft bent on raiding Darwin that for many weeks the enemy has been dissuaded from a pastime proven singularly uiiremunerative. Allied bomber crews claim to know popular targts at the enemy bases of Koepang and Dilli as well as they know their home. Not so long ago horses were the favoured form of motive power in this area To-day army jeeps are everywhere. Troops, Australian and American, are to be encountered in the most remote places Servicemen in this operational zone have little entertainment. There are no private homes, no shops, no towns— just an ! occasional issue of beer and a once- ! in-a-while picture show of years-old films. TRYING CONDITIONS. Favourite form of relaxation is •known to the troops as "spine-bash- j ing" — lying on one's eamp bed, read- 1 ing or dozing. The more energetic ' go on occasional shooting excursions, ! or they fish — if stunning fish withj high explosives merits that descrip- ! tion. In the Northern Territory, the long, ' hot, dry season dries men out, according to army medical officers. j After about a year, most men begin i to lose weight and appetite. Army policy therefore has been to transfer to more temperate areas men having

had eighteen months of continuous service in the far north. Even more trying than the enervating heat is the dust, which A.I.F. personnel who served in 'Egypt and Libya describe as "worse than the dust of the Western Desert." Redcoloured and fine as talcum powder, it colours the rooms of buildings as if they had been painted. Behind moving vehicles it floats in pennants trailing for a hundred yards. About a year ago command of Austraiia's Northern Territory force was handed over to an A.I.F. ieader and staff who had won distinction in the Miadle East. To-day even junior commanders in the area are proven aetive service veterans, and their rigorously trained and toughened troops are reckoned the most capable fighting force in all Australia. Apart from AllLd air power. which the Japanese have already founcl so formidable, these ground troops are well supported with armoured fighting strength. It is little more than a year since the first Austalian armoured division was formed — and the presence in Australia of the 28-ton American General Grant tanks and the British Matildas was revealed some time ago. Expansion of this "right arm" of the fighting services has been enormous. Cost of equipping the division, most powerful seclion of Austraiia's war machine, was £25,00|0,000. Its base workshops alone cost £2,500,000. An unstated part of Austraiia's armoured strength waits in the north, in company with growing air power and other land forces, to meet any Japanese invader bold enough to attempt to set foot on the Australian mainland.