AMERICAN TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1942, Page 3

AMERICAN TROOPS

ALREADY IN AUSTRALIA VANGUARD OF GREAT FORCE. SUPPLY OF FIGHTER PLANES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 15. Relative optimism prevails in Washington regarding the Pacific situation. This is based on two factors; The arrival of American troops in Australia and the supply of American fighter aircraft there. It was admitted that the American troops in Australia probably number only a few thousand, but they are the vanguard of a great expeditionary force which is being sent to Australia. Apart from the moral weight of the visible American support to the threatened Australians, it is understood that the American soldiers there include the best-trained and best-equipped troops in the entire United States Army. More important as an immediate factor in the military situation is the arrival of American fighter planes in Australia. If they are present in sufficient force to protect the Flying Fortress Bombers’ operations, the outcome of the battie for Australia should be far different from that for Java, where the Flying Fortresses were not protected by fighters and hence were forced to withdraw. Furthermore, though the Allied naval inferiority is now more marked than ever, some American naval units are still operating off Australia. In addition, the role of the American submarines operating in the Pacific area is becoming very important. Washington is keenly aware that the forthcoming battle will be grim, but the authorities recognise that the retention of Australia is vital to the Allied military strategy from both offensive and defensive viewpoints, for, as Mr. Curtin pointed out in his speech to America, if Australia falls the west coast of America will be the next Japanese invasion target.

MIGHTY FLOW OF WAR MATERIAL. PROMISED BY AMERICAN ENVOY. CANBERRA, March 16. "The flow of lend-lease equipment will become a mighty river. It will be sufficient to help Australia protect its great continent,” said Mr. W. S. Wasserman, head of the United States lend-lease mission to Australia. A survey of Australia’s requirements in this respect was begun today when Mr. Wasserman conferred with the Prime Minister and the Customs Minister. In an interview, Mr Wasserman said that the United States looked upon the Australians as their closest friends, and felt more strongly about helping Australia than any other country with the possible exception of Canada. Mr. Wasserman is to be appointed to the Allied Supply Council in Australia, which was set up in February to handle all supply problems in Australia.