Evening star., 1942-02-19
Damage Reported
Heavy in North
AustruIiun Port
BY the Associated Press.

More than 100 japanese bomberS
and escorting fighter planes at
tackled the north coast city and
port of Darwin, potentially a
vital United Nations naval and
supply base, in two raids today
in the first direct assaults on the
Australian mainland.
Prime Minister John Curtin, from
his hospital sickbed, announced
that 72 bombers with protective
fighter formations participated in
the first raid this morning and that
another wave of 81 bombers re-
turned to the attack in the after
noon.
Four of the second group were
said to have been shot down.
Can Exchange Telegraph re-
port received in London said that
considerable property damage
was inflicted in the second Japa-
nese raid. Reports so far gave
no indication of the loss of life)
Statement Promised.
Mr.. Curtin promised a full state
ment as soon as details become
known
A communique issued subsequent
ly said the raid lasted about one
hour and was directed both against
the town itself and against shipping
in the harbor.
Some casualties were inflicted and
there was some damage to service
installations, but the details are
not yet known, it said.
Darwins Importance to the United
Nations has grown as Japan's tide
of conquest has rolled southwark in
the Pacific toward this island con-
tinent.
It's location on Australia's north
ernmost rim gives it strategic geo.
graphic position, not only as a fleet
base, but also as a gateway for sup
plies for the defense of the Com
monwealth. Afraid alarms had
sounded there several times before
as early in the war as January 2
but only aerial scouts had ap-
preached and there had been no
bombing before.
Formerly Reserve Base.
At the start of the war in the Pa.
ciflc Darwin was essentially re-
serve base for the United Nations
behind Manila, Singapore and Soer-
abaja and Amboina in the Neither
lands, Indies.
Now Japan's hordes are poised
for an invasion attempt against
Java, the site of Soerabaja and all
the others already are in enemy
hands.
Soerabaja is less than four hours
flying time from Darwin and Am
boina is only 675 miles to the north.
The loss or incapacitation of Dar-
win might, therefore, Danish the
United Nations fleets from that
area of the Pacific. Rear Admiral
P. E. Mcneil, engineering chief Of
the Australian Navy, left for the
west coast port of Perth, on the
Indian Ocean, early this month to
direct work which had taken the
Prime Minister himself there.
New Highway Is Link.
Darwin actually is little more than
an outpost, 5000 miles from South
ern Australia and without direct
rail connection with the industrial
southland. The railroad from Dar-
win ends at Birdum, 300 miles to
the south, and is linked with an
other connecting with the main fed
eral railroads by a new 600-mile-
long highway built in SO days dur
ing 1910.
This was the result of swift ex-
pansion following the outbreak Of
war in 1889, which converted Dar-
win from a frontier town of cattle
raisers and pearl fishers to an i'm
portant military establishments and
a port of modern military design.
Infantry forces stationed at Dar-
win are charged with guarding the
port against surprise attack by land,
a threat because the coast is unin-
habited for long distances to the
east and west.
Fishermen Suspected.
Although there never YVES large
Japanese population in the whole,
vast northern territory, most were
In or near Darwin and many sup
posed japanese pearl fishermen. in
recent years were suspected of TAX
ing soundings to supply Japan with
important navigation dsta concern
Ing Australia's north coast.
Australia has now experienced
physical contact with the war;" the
Prime Minister said.
Total mobilization is the govern
ment's policy for Australia. Until
all necessary machinery has been
put into effect all Australians must
voluntarily answer the governments
call for the complete giving of every
r. thn potiny, ~