Evening star., 1942-04-29
More .S.Troops Reach Australia
Offensive Prepared Curtin Says;
Japs so Miles From Lashio> Burma
Strong Forces
Landed After
New Warnings
b the Associated Press.

oS INC hScOCldtcu fIcSs.
CANBERRA, Australia, April
20. - More American troops,
strong and we'll equipped, have
arrived in Australia and an Of
fensive is being prepared in the
very face of an imminent Japa-
nese assault on this continent,
Prime Minister John Curtin an
nounced today.
While he was giving to the House
of Representatives this news and re-
ports of steadily increasing flow of
planes, tanks and guns from the
United States, Allied and japanese
airmen continued the unending bat
tie of bombs in the northern islands
which are the requisites to attack
by either side
Allied headquarters reported de-
struction of Japanese ammunition
dump at Lac, New Guinea, and in
Perception of a japanese raid on
Port Moresby.
Damage Is Slight.
In a raid on the Port Moresby
area yesterday, the Japanese used
eight bombers and IA Zero fighters.
Allied fighters intervened and, a
communique reported, damage was
slight.
United States anti-aircraft gun
ners on beleaguered Corregidor were
disclosed to have shot down two
Japanese bombers when the enemy
carried out high altitude raid on
the island fortress in Manila Bay.
Otherwise, action in the Philip
pines was limited to artillery and
patrol operations.
Air Minister Arthur S. Drakeford
warned that heavy japanese air
raids on Australia itself can be ex-
pected soon, and other sources con-
firmed that the enemy was massing
his planes and equipment for furi-
Gus onslaught possibly within fort
night
Taking cognizance of the danger,
Mr.. Curtin reported the Allied
northern bases also were being
rapidly reinforced and said the new
ly-arrived American reinforcements
included important technical
Units"
The Prime Minister also an
nounced that he had created "the
Prime Minister'S war conference"
consisting of himself, Gen. Douglas
Macarthur and such ministers and
officers as he might summon to dis
cuss highest strategical questions.
IN his statement on the American
reinforcements, he said:
Strong additional United States
reinforcements which are well
equipped and include important
technical units have arrived.
The equipment position has ma
terially improved.
I'm addition to acceleration of To-
cal production of munitions, supplies
Of tanks and guns are arriving from
overseas in increasing numbers and
quantities Of vital war equipment
have been received from ships orig
inally destined for the Dutch East
Indies.
Supplies of modern United States
aircraft have made possible REIN
forcement of our northern air bases,
resulting in constant raiding of Jap
anese bases in New Guinea, New
Britain and Timor."
Cordial Welcome
Mr.. Curtin gave cordial welcome
to United States forces which re-
Gently have landed in New Caledo-
MIA and declared that Macarthur s
directive provides that the combined
resources of our Allies and our
selves will be devoted to the pro-
lection of the military regions OF
Australia as bases for future Of
fensive action against Japan"
BY the occupation of bases in the
Solomon Islands, he declared, the
Japanese indicated that they were
reaching toward our sea-borne
communications with America"
The Prime Minister also dis
closed that Australia was awaiting
the views of the Soviet government
concerning the best form for an
exchange of representation,
Mr.. Curtin asserted that Aus
tralia was preparing to take the
offensive against the japanese even
in the face Of an invasion threat
which she regards as constant and
undiminished.
Notwithstanding japanese losses
in aircraft and shipping at New
Guinea and elsewhere, the COM
monwealth government regards an
outright attack on Australia as a
(See AMERICANS, Page A-6J