Evening star., 1942-02-12
Leaders in Congress
Demand Redoub|ed
Effort 10 Aid Far East
Spread Of U. S. Forces
Emphasized by Dispatch
Of Troops to Curacao
BY the Associated Press,

pore by redOubllng efforts to get
quantities of planes, tanks and
guns to the Netherlands Indies
Australia and Burma.
This earnest admonition followed
a fresh demand on the country's
existing military resources by the
dispatch Of United States Army
cortingents to the Dutch island ol
Curacao, off the northern coast o1
Venezuela.
The troops reinforced the Dutch
units which have been guarding the
highly important oil refinery CEN
ters on the main island of Curacao
and on Aruba, another island in the
colony.
This move was another tacit re-
minder of the unpredictable,, world
wide character of the war, for the
Curacao colony lies well behind the
Anglo-American shield of bases
commanding the southern ap-
proaches to the Caribbean and thus
would seem protected adequately
enough already.
Guard Against Sneak Raid.
However, American and Dutch
military authorities evidently de-
cided that this was not sufficient
because of the possibility of a de-
structive sneak raid, and the garrl-
sons were reinforced.
The decision bespoke determl-
nation not to repeat in this heml-
sphere the costly mistakes of the
Philippines, Singapore and other
KEY Pacific points where inadequate
garrisons have helped make possible
spectacular enemy successes.
The debacle at Singapore cast an
air of gloom over Capitol Hill, where
most legislators conceded that loss
of the great base would prolong the
war. However, Senator Bailey, Demo-
crat, of North Carolina said that the
American people should not be dis
couraged by such early setbacks.
I'VE have just begun to fight" he
declared. Nobody should lose heart
because of the events in the first two
months of the war"
Senator George, Democrat, OF
Georgia, predicted that japanese
capture of Singapore would be fol-
lowed by about attacks on the
Netherlands Indies and Burma. 1t
was in these two theaters, he said,
that all possible American equip
ment must be concentrated swiftly.
Sees Chinese Force Available.
Senator George, a member of the
Foreign Relations Committee, said
he was satisfied that large Chinese
forces were available for the defense
of Rangoon, key port for the Burma
road which leads to Chungking.
Rangoon now is threatened, but
Senator George said that if sufficient
American materials could somehow
be delivered there, the Chinese could
be depended on for men to aid in
the fighting.
There was less congressional op-
timism, however, about the ability
of the United Nations to hold the
Indies and Chairman Walsh of the
Senate Naval Committee said it was
hard to see how the Japanese could
be stopped short of Australia.
Senator Walsh was of the opinion
that the United Nations could do
little more than fight delaying ac-
tions in the Southwest Pacific, with
occasional offensive forays, until the
United States had built up over
whelming military strength.
That might take 18 months, he
said, but he predicted that when the
time arrived this country would
make an al-out offensive sweep
which would crush japanese out
posts and lay Japan proper open to
smashing attack.
Approve Helfrich Appointment.
Senator Walsh and others appar-
emily looked with approval, mean
while, on the appointment of Vice
Admiral c. E. L. Helfrich of the
Royal Netherlands Navy to COM
mand the United Nations naval
forces in the Western Pacific.
Admiral Helfrich succeeds Admiral
Thomas c. Hart, U. S. NJ, who asked
to be relieved of his command be-
cause of i'll health.
Expressing regret over the loss of
Admiral Hart, Senator Walsh said
Admiral Helfrich's experience and
qualifications indicated that he was
a leader upon whom the United
States and its allies could rely.
Similarly, Senator Clark, Demo-
crat, of Missouri said Admiral Hell
frich had demonstrated at the be-
ginning of the war that he was in
close touch with the situation be-
cause he had his fleet at sea, ready
for any eventuality, when the jap
anese attacked Pearl Harbor.
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama commented that Admiral
Helfrichs intimate knowledge of
Netherlands Indies waters should
serve him in good stead as COM
mander of the United Nations sea
forces there.
Oepfate Under Dutch.
The Army contingents which have
been sent to help guard Curacao and
AIuUd dlSO WILL NC Opcl dung ulluCI
Dutch direction, the State Depart
ment disclosed last night in an
nouncing that the troops had been
sent at the request of the Neither
lands government.
This was the second instance
where United States troops have
been assigned to help the Dutch pro-
tect their possessions in this hemi-
sphere. Late in November an Army
contingent landed in Dutch Guiana
to help the Netherlands forces there
guard that colony's rich bauxite
mines.
When the previous defense meas
ure was undertaken, neighboring
Brazil agreed to cooperate. 1t was
understood that Venezuela likewise
had agreed to cooperate with the
Dutch in Curacao's defense, the
State Department said.
Curacao and Aruba are two OF
the six islands which make up the
Dutch West Indies colony. The
Royal Dutch Shell Co. has large re-
fineries on Curacao, and the Stand
ard Oil Co. of New Jersey on Aruba.
The rich Venezuelan oil fields sup