MAJOR ISSUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1942, Page 3

MAJOR ISSUE

AT STAKE IN COMING BATTLE MR CASEY’S DECLARATION. NEED OF STRONG AMERICAN REINFORCEMENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 23. Mr R. G. Casey, in a broadcast declared: ."The fate of civilisation for a long time to come may hinge on the outcome of the battle for Australia, which is likely to break out in its full fury,in the next few 1 He stressed the urgency of formidable support by the United States and Britain and called for offensive action and for men, weapons, equipment, planes and ships that could be added to the Australian strength. MESSAGES TO MACARTHUR FROM GENERALS WAVELL & CHIANG KAI-SHEK. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, March 23. General Wavell, according to a Melbourne message, has sent a message to General MacArthur: “All good fortune and success in your new command.” Expressing his thanks, General MacArthur added: “We will do our best.” Thanking General Chiang Kai-shek for a message in which the Generalissimo expressed his delight at the Australian appointment, General MacArthur said: “I have absolute confidence in complete victory.” CHINESE IN ACTION SEARCH FOR JAPANESE PARACHUTIST. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, March 23. New Delhi reports the issue of the following communique, regarding the operations of the Chinese army in Burma:—“There was light artillery fire yesterday against the Chinese south of Tougoo, but the Chinese suffered no casualties. One Japanese parachutist, it is reported, landed somewhere west of Pyinmanna yesterday and Chinese soldiers are searching the area for him.”