IN SOME FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1943, Page 3

IN SOME FORCE

JAPANESE SUBMARINE ATTACK IN WATERS EAST OF AUSTRALIA ATTEMPT TO CUT SUPPLY LINE. GUARDED HEADQUARTERS STATEMENT. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 2. Japanese submarines are striking at Allied shipping in the South-West Pacific. This is announced in a communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters. It says: "The enemy has launched a submarine attack in some force in the waters east of Australia. Details will be given as soon as their release will not assist in his operations. This will somewhat delay their chronological daily recording in the communique.” Large ocean-going submarines are believed to be operating in attempts to cut the Pacific supply line from America and disrupt shipping between Australia and northern island bases. The Japanese are thought by some observers to have interpreted the recent Washington mission of two of General MacArthur’s generals, Lieu-tenant-General Kenney and MajorGeneral Sutherland, as the signal for an increased flow of seaborne war supplies from the States. The Australian eastern seaboard is regarded as a favourable field for submarines based on Truk, the big Japanese base in the Caroline Islands, 750 miles north of Rabaul. ' In the islands north and north-east of Australia, the enemy has a number of refuelling' bases. Allied aircraft are hunting the submarines, of which increased numbers have been sighted recently. With the material available everything possible is being done to combat the newest Japanese threat. In the submarine attacks so far reported, nine Allied ships have been lost off the Australian coast since last June. Nine Japanese submarines have been destroyed, three probably destroyed and two damaged. Four of those destroyed were the midget submarines sunk, by depth charges and shelling in Sydney Harbour at the end of May of last year. The latest announced sinking of an Allied vessel by submarine attack in these waters was on April 12. DANGERS EMPHASISED. The Japanese are reported to be using submarines in conjunction with other movements by naval surface craft. They have also been employed in desperate attempts to supply the starving enemy garrisons on the north New Guinea coast. Coincident with the announcement of increased Japanese submarine activity, Australia’s Minister of Shipping and Supply, Mr Beasley, has told Australians: ‘lt is disturbing that so many people still refuse to recognise the danger from an enemy within striking distance of our waterfront. This danger is imminent and threatening. Unless the Japanese are driven back effectively, the war will have to be fought all over again within 20 years.” Australia’s deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of the Army. Mr Forde, said yesterday, following a meeting of the War Council: “Only a fool will assume that we are out of the wood. ‘ There is ample evidence of a sub-' stantial concentration of enemy land, I sea and air forces to the north of Australia and of greater submarine warfare in Australian waters. There is a constant menace hanging over this country while the powerful Japanese nation has control ovei' the seas to the north of Australia. This has enabled them to concentrate more than 200,000 men and sufficient airfields and strips to accommodate more than 1500 aircraft in the perimeter of islands from Timor to Rabaul. Reconnaissance reports indicate an increase in their activity in building additional airfields.” ENEMY THREATS TALK OF UNPARALLELED OPERATIONS. SIGNS OF IMPENDING ACTION BY AMERICA. NEW YORK, May 2. Japan is preparing for unparalleled large-scale operations by all her forces, states the Tokio radio. The Japanese Press chief, General Yahagi, says that Japan has completed the establishment of strategic bases north and north-east of Australia, including Timor, New Guinea and the Solomons. Australia, he declared, was in an extremely nervous condition anticiating these operations for which the new bases would pave the way. The New York “Journal-American” says that if the Japanese offensive engulfs the Pacific outposts, it will not be because Washington lacked informaion.t “A long procession of military leaders —Americans. Australians and New Zealanders —have treked to Washington describing the danger and pleading for help,” says the paper. Colonel Kaye, aide to Governor Stainbeack, of Hawaii, says that the danger is so terrific and so immediate in the Pacific that its real nature canI not be disclosed till steps are taken to meet it. “I do not know whether the Japanese intend to attempt the invasion of Australia, nor does anyone else.” said the Australian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Evatt, today. “But the possibility cannot be excluded and must be guarded against.” He added that the Allies would counter with new blows against Japan. The Berlin radio says that the world is on the eve of very important decisions in the north Pacific. It adds: “The Aleutians will soon become a major battle area. The Japanese are thoroughly consolidating their bases before launching large-scale operations. The Americans are also feverishly concentrating on the completion of their bases in the Aleutians. All the signs indicate that American praparations for a counter-offensive against the Japanese are nearing completion.”