Evening star., 1942-04-26
U.S.. U.S.TroopsLandinNewC
To Help Free French Defend Isle;
R. A. F. in 8 Big Raids in II Hours
Outery by vichy
Is Expected as
Result of Move
~ tho Associated Press.

~ tho Associated Press.
The United States announced
yesterday 1t had landed troops
in New Caledonia to assist the
Free French in the defense of
that vitality strategic island
which fianks the supply route
between this country and Aus
tralia.
The action. which the War De-
partment said was taken with the
approval OF local authorities" was
the first announcement Of American
troops moving into French territory.
The size Of the American force was
not disclosed.
In view OF the new collaboration
Est regime OF Pierre Laval at Vichy-
and OF the previous angry out
burst from Vichy when the United
States sent a consul-general to
Brazzaville in Free French Equa-
torial Africa-observers expected q
new outcry from vichy. The step
was hailed in London as "a highly
welcome step to insure the common
defense OF the Allied lifeline TO
Australia and New Zealand"
Relations between Washington
and vichy have steadily deterio-
rated since announcement that
Laval was returning to power.
Ambassador william D. Leahy has
been called home for consultations.
Way Paved Last Month
This country has enunciated a
policy OF maintaining relations
with French citizens who are In
actual control of French territories.
Thus, the way for the troop land
ing in New Caledonia was paved
last month with an announcement
by the State Department that the
United States would aid Free French
forces there in the defense of the
island.
From q military standpoint, New
Caledonia is of utmost importance
to the United Nations. Lying 800
miles east of Australia, 1t Is close
to the route for the ships carrying
men and munitions TO the Austria
lian bases for the projected Often
sive against the japanese.
Its value as an air base was recog-
nized even before the southwark
surge of the Japanese focused at
tention on the islands or Australia.
Pan American Always chose Nou-
mea, the capital, as q port of call
for its San Francisco-Auckland, New
Zealand. route.
The island, about 260 miles long,
has white population of 1880, of
which more than 5000 are French.
I,4so laps on Island.
About .430 Japanese live on the
island, most of them having come
in as free immigrants, but small
proportion as indentured laborers
In the mines.
The landing of the American
troops on the island represented, in
q manner, the winning of a race
with Japan's invading armies. For
weeks the Japanese have been NOV
ing steadily east and southwark
from Java. nearer and nearer to
the trans-Pacific route from the
United States to Australia.
The Nipponese now are believed to
be about l,200 miles northwest of
New Caledonia on the Island of New
Britain and they claim to have
taken two other smaller islands
slightly east of New Britain.
The War Departments communi-
que announcing the arrival of the
troops at New Caledonia, said:
The War Department announced
today that American troops have
arrived at the Island of New Gale
donia. a French possession in the
Southwest Pacific. These troops
will assist in the defense of the
island and we're sent there with the
approval of the local authorities.
There is nothing to report from
other areas"