ALLIED PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1942, Page 3

ALLIED PLANS

GREAT MOVEMENTS TAKING SHAPE ACCORDING TO FEDERAL MINISTER. AUSTRALIA AS OFFENSIVE BASE. SYDNEY, February 7. “I don’t suggest that the Allies will tamely allow themselves to be beaten right back upon Australia before thinking of an offensive,” said the Minister of the Army, Mr Forde, speaking at' the launching of another Tribalclass destroyer in a New South Wales dockyard. “Many great movements of which I cannot speak are even now under way. Many great decisions, secretly made, are being as secretly carried out. “We may yet be the principal offensive base from which ultimately the Allies will embark upon the reconquest of a free Asia and a free Pacific.” Praising the United States’ aid, Mr Forde said that few details could be released now, but there was ample evidence that American aid would be apparent before many months. The Australian shipbuilding industry, he said, must not be allowed to fade away as it had after the last war. The industry must endure, as it was necessarily interwoven with the long-range defence policy of Australia. AUSTRALIAN LOSSES IN MALAYAN CAMPAIGN. SYDNEY, February 8. The Minister of the Army, Mr Forde, announced that the total A.I.F. casualties in Malaya were 1187, of whom 160 were killed in action, 23 died of wounds, 359 were wounded, and 645 are missing. “The campaign in Malaya will go down in Australian history as one of the most heroic actions fought by our men,” said Mr Forde. “Their task was a superhuman one. The very great majority of the men are in Singapore, continuing their fight against the Japanese.” FULL AGREEMENT CONDUCT OF PACIFIC WAR. STATEMENTS BY DUTCH LEADERS. WASHINGTON, February 7. The Netherlands Minister, Mr Van Kieffens, and the Lieutenant GovernorGeneral of the East Indies, Dr Van Mook, after a visit to the White House, said the Dutch views were entirely in harmony on the conduct of the Pacific war. Dr Van Mook will leave Washington shortly.