NO LOWER LIKELY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1943, Page 3

NO LOWER LIKELY

INVASION OF AUSTRALIA BY JAPANESE STATEMENT BY MR CURTIN. AFTER CONFERENCES WITH GENERAL MACARTHUR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 10. The Australian. Prime ister, Mr Curtin, today summed up two conferences, which he had early this week with General MacArthur, Conimander-in-Chief in the South-West Pacific area. lit* stated it was not believed that the enemy could now invade Australia —this because of the size of the Allied forces which were now disposed in the South-AVest Pacific. Australia was not yet immune from raids, but the country would be held as a base for attacks against Japan.

NEW PHASE OF WAR REPORTED STRATEGIC DECISIONS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 10. General MacArthur flew to Sydney on Monday and for four hours discussed with Mr Curtin details of the strategy marking the new phase of the war against Japan. Certain decisions were made. After the conference, Mr Curtin appeared more buoyant and optimistic than at any time since the start of the Pacific war. General MacArthur arrived at an aerodrome near Sydney on Monday. He was dressed informally, wearing a leather flying jacket over a khaki shirt, and he looked a picture of-health. He was met by Mr Curtin. After the conference, General MacArthur gave no indication of the nature of the discussions. Later, Mr Curtin and General MacArthur were guests of the Gover-nor-General, Lord Gowrie, at Admiralty House.

IN SOUTH PACIFIC STRONG AMERICAN FLEET. PREPARATIONS FOR FRESH ACTIVITY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 9. Colonel Frank Knox, United States Secretary for the Navy, speaking to a graduating class at the United States Naval Academy, said: “On the South Pacific front one of the strongest American fleets ever assembled keeps watch and prepares for fresh activity.” ■ He also stated: “The Allies are making gratifying progress in the Battle of the Atlantic, though that vital sea contest is by no means won.” Commenting on the global nature of the, war, Colonel Knox said there was a lot of irresponsible talk about a “second front.” There were already eight fronts: The Western Mediterranean, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the South Atlantic, the South Pacific. the North Pacific, the Russo-Ger-man, and the Chinese.

DIRECT HITS APPARENTLY ON MUNITIONS WAREHOUSES. AT JAPANESE NEW GUINEA BASE. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 10. ' Continued heavy weather throughout l the South-West Pacific area yesterday limited Allied air activity almost entirely to armed reconnaissance. Liberators, however, made damaging strikes against Nabire and Manokwari, on the north coast of Dutch New Guinea, and a Flying Fortress bombed Unea Island, in the Vitu group, in the Bismarck Sea. Nabire, which has an airstrip and small port facilities, was attacked with 5001 b. bombs. General MacArthur’s communique says that a terrific explosion occurred when two large buildinss, apparently munitions warehouses, received direct hits. Our aircraft, which were flying at 12,000 ft., were jarred, and the resulting fires were visible for 75 miles. Huge columns of smoke rose 8000 ft.

Unea Island is a new objective for Allied air attack. The Japanese are believed to have occupied the island only recently, and in the past few weeks some buildings have been erected. The enemy is possibly contemplating the construction of an airstrip there. Japanese ships have been observed in the Vitu group from time to virne.

There is no fresh news of the New Guinea land fighting in the Mubo area. A virtual stalemate has continued in the area for a few weeks. Both sides are pushing out occasional patrols, but no heavy clashes.are reported.

ATTACK ON MUNDA MOPPING-UP CONTINUES ON ATTU. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 10. Washington announces that Japanese positions at Munda, on New Georgia, in the Central Solomons, were attacked by Flying Fortresses yesterday. The communique also reveals that mopping-up operations on Attu are still going on. Yesterday a small number of Japanese troops were killed and prisoners were taken.

EAT OR BE EATEN JAPANESE SPOKESMAN’S VIEW. OF WAR. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) NEW YORK, June 9. Tire Tokio radio rebuked the Japanese for grumbling about food shortages. It told its listeners to be thankful they were not yet eating rats and crows, similarly to the people of Europe. The announcer warned farmers that they must work harder. Addressing a “Crush Britain and America” rally, the Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives, Tada-

hiko Odada, asserted that there was no room for the simultaneous existence of Britain, America, and Japan, says the Tokio official radio.

Odada added: “We must destroy Britain and America which are cruelty and craftiness incarnate. Global war does not permit any half-baked distinction between victor and vanquished. It is a question of the survival of the fittest—eat or be eaten.”