AUSTRALIAN TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1942, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS

AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE ANYWHERE IN THRUSTING BACK JAPANESE HELP FOR NEW ZEALAND IF IT IS NEEDED. UTMOST FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ASSURED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright/ MELBOURNE, April 7. The provisions of the Defence Act restricting compulsory military service to Australia and its territories ■will not be allowed to hinder General MacArthur in disposing the Australian forces under his command with the utmost freedom. It can now be stated authoritatively that the Government will regard as territories of Australia for the purposes of the Defence Act any territories which are occupied by Australian forces for the purpose of resisting Japan and which consequently come under the Australian flag. The Government believes that there can be no doubt about Parliamentary approval of steps designed to push the enemy so far away from Australia that he would have no chance of an effective attack. It is also convinced that the Australian people are thinking today in terms of Allied necessity rather than of purely selfish Australianism. It is pointed out that if, for example, New Zealand were attacked, it would be unthinkable for Australia to withhold the maximum assistance, involving the use of any reinforcements she might require. It is emphasised that no immediate use of more Australian troops outside Australian territory can be expected. It was a heartening sight and an exhilarating experience to see the speed with which two great Australian armies are coming into being, said the Army Minister, Mr Forde, after inspection of a unit of the Australian military forces in rigorous training. The Minister said that the Government had directed General Blarney and his staff to make a military effort which would be without parallel in the history of the Commonwealth. That instruction was being carried out with the greatest vigour. “As the weeks go by, our organised strength will take such a form that every area of Australia will have a degree of protection greater than it ever possessed,” said Mi’ Forde. “The difficulties which Japan will encounter in the attack upon the Commonwealth will be of such a kind that the conquest of this country will represent a military problem greater by far than Japan has undertaken. “We reckon with the possibility that, however much of a gamble it may be, Japan may make the attempt. The Federal Government is now assured of still heavier accretions to the war strength within the Commonwealth than had been expected a few weeks./ ago. . . J. “I am delighted with the spirit of? the Australian troops. They are on their mettle and are. training like demons.”