The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-20
Macarthur Ordered
To Start Offensive
(NEA Telephoto)
CONTINUED from Page y

the new United Nations Supreme
Commander In the southwest pa
cific had made since his arrival In
Australia Tuesday.
It told the world that the man
who had outsmarted and outfought
the Japanese In the Philippines had
hurled at them o challenge which
represented the fighting might and
spirit of America, now pouring into
this continent In o stream.
As Macarthur made his state
ment, Prime Minister John Curtin
said In q statement of his own:
I'VE viii take back what we have
lost"
Australia Backs Pledge
He said Australia backs the gal
liant pledge Of Macarthur to the
Philippines.
Army Minister Francis M. Forde,
paying his first official visit this
afternoon to the American forces,
inspected them and said their pres
ence under Gen. Macarthur would
be an inspiration to all Australians
to redouble their war efforts. e
Japanese war planes dashed out In
two new attacks on Port MoreSby,
$50 miles northeast of Australia, as
their invasion forces drove through
the interior Of New { linea toward
1t behind Naz!-trained native guides
and German missionary" aides.
MacArthur's statement was re-
ceived everywhere with enthusiasm
and echoed In high quarters.
Curtin, who conferred with Lieut..
Gen. George II. Brett, Deputy Allied
Commander, in regard to MacAr-
thurs arrival In Melbourne probab-
ly tomorrow, said
Take Back What We Lost
"What Macarthur said Is true. We
will hold what we have got and
take back what we have lost.
1.-THE gallant dutch will yet see
their own flag flying over O restored
people. That Is also true Of Malaga
And MacArthlr's gallant men In
the Philippines will find Australia
and the Allies advancing toward
them"
1t was understood that Macarthur
would arrive in Melbourne ON Sat-
urday and go to Canberra on Sum
day for a discussion Of Allied STRAIT
egy with Curtin. The preliminary
talks were started by Curtin and
Brett when they conferred over air
cooperation between American and
Australian forces.
They had raided Darwin yester-
day, reconnoitered over Port Mores-
by and attacked Tulagi and Florida
IN the Solomon Islands as aerial
warfare intensified IN speed and
fury all along the northern and
northeastern coastal fringes.
-Four Japanese fighter planes used
their cannon and machine guns
against the airdrome areas until
ground fire drove them off.
In o second attack O Japanese
heavy bomber made two runs over
the Port Moresby area, dropping Its
bombs.
No Damage Done
It was asserted that In neither
raid was damage Of casualties
caused.
High Allied officers revealed that
American airplane crews were oper-
ating widely over the New Guinea
invasion area, and praised them
highly.
I'VE are trying to keep the Jap
anese from stabilizing their posi-
ton In New Guinea" a spokesman
said. IT we had q little more equip
ment we could do IT,"
Gen. Douglas Macarthur was ex.
pected at his headquarters here
within "A hours TO take active
charge OF the battle Of Australia
which Is now gathering momentum
Prime Minister John Curtin an
nounced that Macarthur would ar
rive at Canberra, the capital, Tues
day.
Japs Must Push On
SpuTred by persistent and pur-
lShing American Australian air at.
tack, the Japanese were reported
pushing through New Guinea to-
ward Port Moresby In hope OF
SELLING airdrome sites but Up TO late
today dispatches indicated that
they had not yet come In contact
with the Australian forces.
Prime Minister Curtin reported
that the japanese activity In New
Guinea, radiating out from the Lac
and Sarauaua areas of the Huon
Gulf, were now clearly extensive.
Curtin said that In raidlng Dar-
win, the great Allied north coast
base, yesterday. japanese heavy
bombers dropped so bombs most
OF them augmentation bombs in.
tended TO kill rather than cause
damage, and that they had drop
ped some demolition bombs. They
few ct 10000 feet In v formation,
he said, and bombed residential
areas. Two persons were killed and
seven or eight wounded, he said.
Curtin reported that japanese
planes were now flying at from TO-
600 TO $4,000 feet In come Of their
raids, as the Allied air forces In
tensified their oppohtion and ground
ire became more deadly.
He said that in a raid yesterday
on Koepang, in Dutch Tiinor $50
miles from Darwin, Allied planes
encountered japanese fighter OPP
position but evaded IL successfully.
An Allied airpIane crew, reported
missing yesterday, had now return
ed safe, he said.
UNITED PRESS THANKED
Melbourne, March 20-(UP)-Es-
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