BETTER OUTLOOK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1942, Page 2

BETTER OUTLOOK

POSITION OF NEW ZEALAND IMPROVEMENT IN LAST SIX MONTHS. SEVERAL FACTORS IN GREATER SECURITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The strategical position of New Zealand in regard to the Pacific has improved considerably during the last six months,” said the General Officer Commanding the New Zeaalnd Military Forces, Lieutenant-General E. Puttick, in an interview at the weekend. Fie said this was due to (a) increased strength of United States forces in the Pacific and Australia, with consequent increased power of mutual support by the forces stationed in the various localities; (b) severe check to Japanese advance by operations at Midway Island, the Solomons, and New Guinea, and severe Japanese losses, especially naval, merchant shipping and air losses; (c) increased-strength of New Zealand forces through arrival of very large quantities of equipment, progress in training and experience of officers, n.c.o’s. and men of mobilised forces and Home Guard, and improved deincluding additional coast and A.A. defences.

“On the other hand,” said General Puttick, “there has been a reduction in the readiness of the Army for immediate action, due to the heavy drawoff of men for industry. This situation requires that sufficient warning of impending attack should be received in order to allow men to rejoin units, should an emergency arise. It is reasonable to expect that warning of the probability of serious attack would be received.”