“ISLAND HOPPING”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1943, Page 3

“ISLAND HOPPING”

IN WAR AGAINST JAPAN NECESSARY WITHIN LIMITS ADDRESS BY DR. EV ATT. MORAL FACTOR SUPREMELY IMPORTANT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 7. The Australian Minister of External Affairs, Dr Evatt, speaking in Leeds, where he received the freedom of the city, said no one had ever proposed to spend weeks or months in separate attacks on every island held by the Japanese. What was necessary was to apply pressure to Japan from all points, including China. For that purpose, Dr Evatt added, it had become essential to attack and re-occupy some islands of crucial importance. Some "island-hoppmg was absolutely essential. It was all a matter of time, place and circumstances, to be judged by military authorities. There was also another aspect. Many British islands were still held by the enemy. “While any of our enemies retain a single British island, ’ said Dr Evatt, no Briton dare rest satisfied. That is, in principle, just as important as the achievement of military objectives, for the moral factor in war is of incalculable importance. It is our supreme duty to hasten the complete overthrow of any enemy who has impiously hauled down the British flag." Dr Evatt spoke of the contribution to the war made by different nations and suggested that in the settlement of post-war problems nations which had contributed much should be regarded as having conferred a capital benefit on those whose contribution was small or non-existent. Australians, who began the war as, a crusade against aggression in Europe, eventually had'the duty, as a British nation and trustee of civilisation, of arresting the tremendous southern advance of Japan. Australia continued to place at a very high pitch its responsibility. Australians served in the R.A.F. wherever the R.A.F. was engaged. “Yet as this war has only one great front, these young men though fighting in Europe are helping to destroy aggression, not only in Europe, but in Asia and the Pacific too,” Dr. Evatt continued. “They are helping to carry cut Australia’s objective of creating insecurity for Japan everywhere in the Pacific. In those operations, British Spitfires and pilots are playing a part. Fighting for Australia, they are fighting for Britain too.”