MILITARY LEADERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1942, Page 3

MILITARY LEADERS

NOT TO BE SCAPEGOATS FOR NATIONAL DEFICIENCES. FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER’S DECLARATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) MELBOURNE, August 12. As long as he remained at the head of the Government he would not permit military leaders to be made the scapegoats for national defiiciencies, declared the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, when speaking at a gathering commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the city of Melbourne. There must be no criticisms which would militate against the development of the spirit of mutual aid among the Allies, he said. Solidarity among the Allies was essential to make the most of the common pool of resources. That solidarity was not aided by the creation of confusions and misunderstandings. The Governments of Britain, the United States, Russia, and China fully understood the position of Australia just as Australia understood their position. “We do not hear of Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt criticising each other, nor do you hear me criticising Mr Churchill or Mr Churchill ci iticising me,” said Mr Curtin. “In military operations, I believe the best counsel resides in those who have the professional training to give it. The Government accepts full political responsibility for the decisions of the High Command. “After making its plans, the High Command confers with the Government on them, and they act together. Mr Curtin stressed the vastness of the battlefront against the Axis. After speaking of the close links between the battles for the Caucasus, for the Middle East, and for Australia, he said: “It may be that we would prefer the maximum resources to be concentrated in Australia, but the type of temporary security we would gain would ultimately lead to our complete destruction. We must share not only the risk of Port Moresby, Darwin, and Port Hedland, but also that of the Middle East, the Caucasus, and the Atlantic. “That means that some share of our capacity to produce weapons must be dispersed over this widespread struggle, even if our own risks, as a consequence, are increased. , “There will be no safety for Australia and her allies until the defeat of the aggressor nations is complete. We must share the common resources and the common perils.” The Federal Government preferred the sacrifice of rural industries if it was necessary to keep Australia free, said the Federal Treasurer, Mr Chifley, when replying at the Premiers’ Conference to complaints about the difficulty of maintaining farms without more labour. If Australia was held industry could again be established no matter how long the rehabilitation might take. The Government had to choose between making vitally important equipj ment or maintaining rural, industries till such time as the country was over'run by the enemy.