Evening star., 1942-04-20
M'Arthur Confers
With Curtin on
Offensive Plans
Fy he Associated Press.


Australia, April 20-Allied air
men, racing through tropical
transforms in one of their at
tacks, were reported today to
have destroyed 40 Japanese
bombing and fighting planes on
the ground in two raids on Ra-
baul.
While these continuing attacks in
dicated American and Australian
determination to press the japanese
in their outer rim bases and perhaps
force them to relax their grip, Gen.
Douglas MacArthur's new high COM
mand in the Southwest Pacific be-
gan a swift mapping of plans to
carry out instructions to prepare an
offensive
AS an initial step, Prime Minister
John Curtin met with Gen. Mac
Arthur and other Allied service
chiefs in a conference on highly
confidential" subject.
Airdrome Runways Wrecked.
The attacks on Rabaul in New
Britain were made Saturday and
yesterday. Thousands of pounds of
high explosive were said to have
been dropped on Lakunai airdrome
Saturday, wrecking runways, blast
ing to pieces at least four navy
Zero fighters with direct hits and
wrecking many others with flying
steel.
(The London radio last night
quoted the Australian broadcast
ing commissions correspondent
with the Allied forces as saying
"it is believed in Australia that
the Allied air offensive may soon
force the enemy to abandon his
air bases at Lac and Salamaua in
New Guinea.O
Moored flying boats were set on
fire by another wave of raiders,
while in a heavy attack yesterday
at least one japanese ship in Rabaul
harbor was reported damaged by
bomb blasts.
The pilots at Lakunai swooped out
of low clouds, fought their way
through heavy anti-aircraft bar
rage and turned loose their bombs
and machine guns. The operation
was described as highly successful.
Blamey at Conference.
Attending the conference between
Gen. Macarthur and Mr.. Curtin
were Gen. Sir Thomas H. Blamey,
Australian, commander Of Allied
land forces, and Maj. Gen. Richard
Sutherland, American, who is ex-
pected to be Gen. MacArthur's chief
of staff.
Air Minister Arthur S. Drakeford
said it was cheering news that
numbers of the latest American air.
craft will be added to the powers of
attack" of the r. A. A F.
"Australia's hitting power in the
air is growing steadily heavier" he
added.
Mr.. Curtin, who said his govern
ment had joined with the United
States, Great Britain, New Zealand
and the Netherlands in granting
Gen. Macarthur a charter as su-
preme commander in this vital war
theater, attended the conference in
his new role as defense minister.
Informed quarters said the defense
portfolio had been created by the
Australian war cabinet to eliminate
red tape and provide a channel
through which the Allied command
could swiftly advise the government
of its needs.
During the conference, they said
Mr.. Curtin reaffirmed in more per-
sonal terms assurances of his gov
ernment's good will and support
which he formally conveyed to Gen.
Macarthur from Canberra yester-
day.
The prime minister himself hailed
the agreement formulating Gen.
MacArthur's appointment as "a mo-
mentous occasion"
Reports from Rabaul said Aus
tralian prisoners were being en-
ployed as dock workers but that
their morale was high.
The japanese were said to be suf-
ferlng from an acute shortage OF
food, owing to the sinking of supply
ships.
There are signs, however, that
the Japanese are increasing their
fighter strength and endeavoring to
evolve new tactics to minimize in
(See AUSTRALIA, Page A-4O