PACIFIC PERIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1942, Page 3

PACIFIC PERIL

THREAT TO AUSTRALIA DISCUSSED BY LONDON “TIMES.” IMPORTANCE OF NETHERLANDS INDIES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. Sympathetic understanding of the grave danger now confronting Australia following the fall of Singapore is shown by “The Times” in a leading article which analyses the Pacific position. “The Japanese ambitions extend far beyond Java and the Netherlands East Indies,” says the article. “It did not need the Japanese raids on Darwin to bring home to Australians the danger threatening the Commonwealth. The overwhelming if temporary preponderance secured by the Japanese at sea and in the air 10 weeks ago over the whole south-western area of the Pacific would leave no Australian in doubt about its consequences. Every new success of the Japanese had made them plainer. “Whatever illusions might have been left vanished with the fall of Singapore, the British stronghold in the Far East in which for a generation past Australians put their faith as a sure shield against Japanese encroachment and a guarantee of the freedom of their communications with India, the Middle East and Great Britain. “With the Japanese in Singapore and Penang, in Sumatra and threatening Java, in Rabaul and threatening New Guinea, in Timor and threatening the north-west coast of Australia, as well as occupying the naval base of Amboina within easy striking distance of Darwin, every Australian knew that the peril had reached the threshold of the Commonwealth. Darwin has now been raided twice by Japanese bombers and the war has reached Australian soil.” “The Times” says it may seem well worth while to the Japanese to make a considerable sacrifice to gain a foothold in Australian territory, thus the better to interfere with Australian communications, to defend their own lines against Allied attack and carry out air raids against Australian ports. “Australia, however, is thoroughly aware of the danger,” it adds. “The land and air forces available for the defence of their northern and northwest ports may be trusted to offer resistance which would foil any attempt at an occupation not made in considerable strength, such as Japan may not be able to spare for the purpose so long as the stubborn Dutch maintain their resistance. The battle for Australia is now being fought in the Netherlands East Indies.” , JAPANESE LEAFLETS ATTEMPTS TO DECEIVE CHINESE. CHUNGKING, February 23. Official Chinese sources said that Japanese planes flying in the Chekiang Province dropped leaflets urging the Chinese to desert. The leaflets were printed with the American flag superimposed on rows of black crosses and the slogan “British East Asia power destroyed; American East Asia power destroyed.”