KEEN WATCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1942, Page 3

KEEN WATCH

ON NORTH OF AUSTRALIA MACARTHUR’S STAFF CONFERENCES. PREPARATIONS TO MEET ENEMY MOVE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 19. “General MacArthur has spent recent days in conference with his chiefs of naval and air staffs and intelligence officers, and the part his forces will play in the event of another enemy excursion into the southern Pacific has been clearly marked,” reports the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” Melbourne correspondent. “The commander-in-chief has drawn to his staff the best tactical brains available in this theatre of war, and the men advising him on the methods to be adopted in meeting and conquering the Japanese have had the advantage of a close study of the enemy’s methods. “The first concentration of Japanese forces north of Australia had been mapped by the Allies long before it moved south, and the look-out has been intensified in the last few days. The enemy's effort on the New Guinea front lately dropped to spasmodic raids on Port Moresby, and this is regarded in some quarters as a sign that the second Japanese concentration has reached an advanced stage, if it is not in fact sufficiently reinforced to undertake a southern move now. “Without disclosing the Allied plans, it may be stated that co-ordination of all arms is the keynote of the preparations for meeting the new threat. The Air Force will be fully employed to back up both naval and land forces when the clash comes.” ■ NO COMPLACENCY IN THE UNITED STATES. REGARDING THE DANGER TO AUSTRALIA. WASHINGTON, May 18. Fears which have been expressed by the Australian newspaper proprietor, Sir Keith Murdoch, and the “Sydney Morning Herald” that Washington is viewing Australia’s position over-complacently have been widely publicised here. A high, responsible quarter told the Australian Associated Press that there is a threat to Australia and in no way to under-estimate the Japanese strength. There is no official reaction to the Australian complaints, since they were uttered unofficially, but the foregoing closely corresponds with the official viewpoint in one of the most important departments concerned with Australian relations. There is a disposition in some circles here to regard the complaints as an unjustified "newspaper campaign, however, the reaction in other high quarters was that the Australians, like the people in other acute sections of the Allied front, doubtless fear that their supplies are inadequate as the enemy approaches, and therefore want to do their utmost to obtain more support. These authorities said that the United States is doing its utmost for the Australians in view of its responsibilities to them. Authorities say that if there was ever a lack of awareness of the dangci of Australia that has been dissipated by Dr. Evatt’s mission, and the assignment of General MacArthur to the South-West Pacific command. At the Pacific Council Dr. Evatt repeatedly emphasised the importance of the Australian front, and he also reiterated this message to the highest military and naval officials in a series of conferences. , .. One source said that Australians should not be misled by President Roosevelt’s use of the word “check in his recent statement in which he declared that the Japanese southward advance had been checked. This does not mean defeated or thwarted, but merely halted temporarily. A high source here has been stressing lately that the Coral Sea battle was in no way conclusive or final, since it is expected that the Japanese will strike again with far heavier forces. _ ( This view coincides with Australia's, and it shows no complacency, though only the future can prove whether the United States’ leaders correctly judged the amount of material and reinforcements which should have been sent to Australia. Tonight’s revelation of the large American reinforcements sent to the British Isles is a reminder that the United States must divide its support among many fronts, in spite of the fact that many Australians undoubtedly feel that the share of material which they have obtained should have been larger. BRUTAL BUT TIMELY EXPOSITION OF AUSTRALIAN VIEW. COMMENT IN BRITAIN. LONDON, May 19., In a leading article on Dr. Evatt’s Ministerial talks and broadcasts, the “Manchester Guardian” says: “It was good 'that the British people should be told so frankly' and almost brutally what the Australians are feeling and what they expect from us. The theory of the slowly-mounting Allied production which in time would crush the enemy has to be tempered by the need for exerting all our strength in the critical months of 1942. _ _ . “This is in response to Hitlers immense concentration and to the time schedule which Japan’s progress imposes. It is also an answer to Dr. Evatt’s demand that Britain and,, ine United States should give, Australia greater and more prompt aid. “Whether Australia is not just a little importunate is a matter for argm ment. She is near the Japanese, aha we are not. None of us can dictate to the Government how it will apportion our growing strength: we only hope with Dr. Evatt that it will no be dissipated and will not be spen prematurely.” _____