PACIFIC LINKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1941, Page 5

PACIFIC LINKS

U.S.A. & AUSTRALIA NEW YORK GATHERING. RELATIONS IN GREAT WAR AND NOW. 'By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 9.15 a.m.) NEW YORK. January 27. Over 400 guests attended the Australian Society’s Australia Day dinner at the Biltmore Hotel, including executives of oil companies, leading banks and Empire organisations. the Xew Zealand. South African anti Indian commissioners and a Ban-American Airways representative, Mr Whitney. Tin* speeches were broadcast to the nation over the X.B.C. network ami short-waved to Australia. Mr. Garran replaced Mr. Casey (who has been indisposed) as the principal speaker. A new ambulance designed for desert warfare was exhibited. Major-General J. G. Harbord. chairman of the Radio Corporation of America, recalled “Australia’s stupendous and awesome” effort in the World War and detailed her present military and economic war effort. He said. "The northern coasts of Australia and New Zealand are a bastion protecting AngloSaxon interests in the Pacific and form bases for operations from Singapore to Hawaii, We are made safer by Australia’s strengthening of bases at Darwin and in Papua and New Guinea. The Oriental member of the Axis is •1320 nautical miles from Sydney, from which place Honolulu is 4420 miles distant and the Philippines 4.037 miles. American ships are not strangers in Sydney and Melbourne harbours, which are indispensable to the joint effort in the South Pacific. Australians and Americans under Australian command broke the Hindenburg Line between Cambrai and Saint Quentin. Then Australian and American soldiers were thought to be similar and were not annoyed by the fancied resemb* ’ lance, although each thought the other I a bit rough in action, with which opin- ! ion the Germans probably agreed. ; Australia is the only great continental ; country lacking direct telegraphic • communication with the United States. I This might become very important, with slight warning, in the troubled days which may be ahead." Twenty-five ambulances built to Australian specifications were handed over to the Aiv-ic War Relief Fund and the British-American Ambulance Corps, at the special Australia Day ceremonies. in which Miss Marjorie Lawrence. An.tic Fund president, MsAlec McLean, ambulance president, and Mr William V. C. Ruxton participated. *