Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1941. DANGERS IN THE PACIFIC.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1941, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WED NESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1941. DANGERS IN THE PACIFIC.

a time when pointed, and in some instances angry comments are being made on the contrast between the present course of events in Malaya and elsewhere,in the Pacific war zone and the blandly optimistic predictions that were heard from some British and other leaders before Japan entered the war, it is noteworthy that one of the ablest and most dispassionate statesmen in the Empire, General Smuts, has aligned himself bo y and deliberately with the optimists. He is. reported today as having stated that one partner of the Axis, Italy, is almost finished and that “as sure as we sit here, what lias happened to Italy will happen to Japan.”

This, of course, is taking the long view. The observations of the Prime Minister of South Africa, it may be supposed, are not intended to have any dose or immediate bearing on m controversy that has arisen in. Britain, the United States anc elsewhere regarding the conduct of the war in the l acnc a controversy that has its highlight at the moment in tie s unp and bitter attack made by the Rajah of Sarawak, Sir J nel Brooke, on those whom he has called, rather rudely, the pore “brass-hats” and “old school tie la-di-da incompetents. It may be hoped and believed that if there has been any sucli incompetence as Sir Vyner Brooke alleges, it will be weec e out ruthlessly? Before it is assumed that there has been incompetence it may be only fair to remember that even the mig 1 y resources of the British Empire are at present under a giea strain and that there has not yet been time for-the even greater resources of the United States to be brought effectively to bear.

At an ultimate view there is reassurance to be drawn from the fact that active measures of collaboration are being concerted between the British Empire, the United States and the other nations concerned. No better proof to that effect could be desired than is afforded in the presence in Washington of the British Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, his Minister of Supply, Lord Beaverbrook and a party of technical advisers. It is not to be doubted that direct and purposeful efforts will be made to achieve maximum collaboration between the English-speak-ing democracies and their Allies, and to secure the quality of leadership that will enable the combined resources of these' nations to be used with the greatest possible effect.

This is as it should be, but it is more immediately important from the point of view of this country and others in the zope of operations to which the Avar has now extended that definite dangers have developed and must be faced in the Pacific. For New Zealand the only policy that need be considered in these circumstances is the policy of “preparedness without panic’ enjoined by the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) in an address last Sunday evening.

In this time of unprecedented crisis, action rather than even the wisest counsel is demanded of Ministers of the Crown and others on whom responsibility rests. What has to be done is simply to make the most of every means of defence, human and material, at the disposal of the Dominion, and to demand of the civilian community any and every effort or sacrifice that will help to support or strengthen the national defence effort. There is no need for our political leaders to spend words in justifying action on these lines. In doing everything that can be done to put the Dominion in a state to defend itself, they will have the loyal support of every New Zealander, man or woman, who counts. Our responsible authorities would invite and receive condemnation only if they failed to make a full call on every resource, bearing directly or indirectly on defence, of which the Dominion is possessed.