U.S.A. TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1942, Page 3

U.S.A. TROOPS

ARRIVAL IN NORTHERN IRELAND IMPORTANT BEARING ON WAR STRATEGY. SUPPLIES FOR NEW ZEALAND. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, January 29. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Winston Churchill mentioned the importance to Britain and the Empire of the arrival of a powerful American army and air force in Britain. It met the wish of the American people and leaders that a large mass of trained and equipped troops which they had under arms in the United States should come into contact with the enemy cis closely and as soon as possible.' The presence of these forces in these islands imports greater freedom of movement overseas to theatres where we are already engaged of matured, seasoned divisions of the British home army. Their presence constitutes an important additional deterrent to an invasion at a time when a successful invasion of these islands is Hitler's last remaining hope of total victory. “Here I address myself to what has been said about aiding and succouring Australia and New Zealand,” said Mr Churchill. “The fact that well equipped American divisions can be sent to these islands so rapidly will enable substantial supplies _of weapons and munitions now being made for our account in America to be sent direct to New Zealand and Australia to meet the new dangers of home defence cast upon them by the Japanese war.” Mr Churchill added that the whole business could not do Mr de Valera any harm and might even do him good. It certainly offered a measure of protection to Southern Ireland which it did not otherwise enjoy. REPLIES TO PROTEST EIRE AND NORTHERN IRELAND A NATIONALIST’S OUTBURST. LONDON, January 28. “Mr De Valera has no right to interfere in Northern Ireland’s affairs, and no claim to sovereignty over Northern Ireland.” said the Premier, ' Mr Andrews, in replying to Mr De Valera’s protest against the arrival of the American troops.

Mr Andrews added: “The presence of the American forces is part of the vast strategic plan for the defeat of the Axis, and therefore vje doubly welcome the Americans, and we are proud to be associated with them in the war. “No doubt Mr De Valera would have prevented their arrival if he could, just as he has denied to Britain and America the use of naval bases in Eire. This folly has seriously hampered the British Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic, and meant the sacrifice of thousands of gallant lives. “Eire, for political and other reasons, may choose to stand aside, but Northern Ireland is in the fight for freedom and intends to see it through.” Mr Patrick Maxwell, Nationalist member of the Northern Ireland Parliament, in an interview, said :“The landing of the Americans in Northern Ireland is the same as the landing of the Germans in Norway. I wholeheartedly support Mr De Valera. The Americans are here just the same as the British are here. There is nothing physically we can do to throw them cut, or we would. The landing com stitutes an aggression against the Irish 1 nation.”