AMERICAN COMMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 April 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN COMMENT

ON GENERAL MACARTHUR’S STATEMENT HIGH TIME TO SUPPLY PACIFIC. DESPERATE NEED OF MORE AIRCRAFT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) - NEW YORK, April 15. The controversy about how many aeroplanes can be sent to General MacArthur has reached a point where President Roosevelt may have to intervene, declares the New York “Journal American.” “General MacArthur wants bombers,” says the New York “Daily News” editorially. “He asked for nothing else in his statement. Planes could .be flown to him. from our huge bomber production without strain or danger’ to our Tunisian hopes.” The paper adds that, while the news from the other war theatres is satisfactory, the situation in the south Pacific is almost as black as when General MacArthur arrived in Australia. He must be given more planes. “America's greatest general seems to feel that the Japanese are not going to be saps enough to sit back and wait till the Allies become strong enough to lick them,” says the New York “Daily Mirror.” Colonel Knox may not know whether the Japanese concentrations are for attack or defence, but General MacArthur, on the spot, is convinced—and he is entitled to our belief. He is also entitled to the last bombei- we can squeeze from our factories above the pledge quota to defeat Hitler.” “Most Americans share Australia’s fear that it is suicidal to give Japan time to consolidate her great gains of strategic materials and bases,” says the “World-Telegram.” “Washington officials, however, appear to have been fooling themselves that the Japanese invasions in the Aleutians are unimportant and that Japanese power in the southern Pacific has been broken by the many American victories. That is not the story of our commanders on the spot. Our forces there are in desperate need of more arms. “After pouring American production across the Atlantic for two years, it is high time a trickle was let into the Pacific fronts.” PROBABLY SUNK BIG JAPANESE MERCHANT SHIP. OFF NORTHERN NEW GUINEA. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 15. The probable destruction of a 6000ton Japanese merchant vessel in Hansa Bay, northern New Guinea, reported in General MacArthur’s communique today, brings the total of enemy shipping sunk or damaged in the bay this week to 27,000 tons. Describing the raid, the communique said: “Our heavy bombers again struck at enemy shipping in the harbour with low-level attacks, scoring three direct hits on a 6000-ton cargo vessel, all that remained of the convoy previously attacked, causing it to list and smoke heavily. Nearly two hours later the ship was observed burning and sinking by the stern. Anti-aircraft positions, loaded barges, and the airfield at Nubia were strafed in a sweep over the bay shore. Though enemy _ fighters were manoeuvring in the vicinity, no interception was attempted.” ENEMY CRUISER DAMAGED BY NEAR-HITS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) SYDNEY, April 15. Offensive activities in the SouthWest Pacific were reported in General MacArthur’s communique as follows:—-“North-western sector, Arafura Sea: Our heavy bombers attacked an eastbound light cruiser north-west of Babar Island, scoring several damaging near-hits. Kai Islands (Toel): One of our medium unit's bombed the town. Dutch New Guinea (Kaimana): Our medium units bombed enemy ground installations, starting fires. _ . “North-eastern sector, New Britain (Übili): One of our heavy units bombed the building area. Gasmata: Our heavy and mediuhi units bombed the aerodrome and harbour area. Barges and float-planes were damaged. Arawe: One of our medium units strafed the building area at night. Cape. Gloucester: One of our medium units in a night raid bombed the aerodrome and strafed blast bays and air craft on the ground. “New Guinea (Finschafen): During the night, one of our medium bombers strafed barges in the harbour.”