The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-17

United Press Starr Correspondent
Cen. MacArthur's Headquarters.
Al tralla, March n. CUP)-One
year ago today two flying fortresses
rolled IN for Q landing on Australian
soil and q tall man wearing a gold
braided cap, wrinkled army trous-
srs and q bush jacket stepped out
% one Of them. Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur had arrived from the be-
eieged Philippines to take command
Of United Nations forces here.
On the first anniversary Of his
assumption Of command, Macarthur
stili q q long way from the goal
be set IN his first public statement:
'sEhe President Of the United States
ordered me TO break through the
Japanese lines and proceed from
Corregidor to Australia for the pur-
pose. Is ! understand 1t. Of organ
ixing the American offensive against
Japan. A primary purpose Of this Is
the relief Of the Philippines. / came
through and I shall return"
But his men have won important
defensive victories, and he has
changed the temper Of the Aus
trallan people from dark despair to
optimism.
Now It Is possible to tell some
things that could not be told in the
black days when the Japanese
hordes were over-running Singa-
pore, the Philippines and the Dutch
East indies.
Australia was almost defenseless
when Macarthur arrived. Her best
troops were far overseas. In the bat
tie Of Malay as he had lost one en-
tire division almost before 1t could
80 into action. Australia, with a
long, vulnerable coast line that is
difhcult to defend, felt about as
Britain did after Dunkirk. She was
open to invasion from almost every
direction.
The common talk conferred around
speculation about which direction
the Japs would come from. Timor,
Tasmania, New Zealand, New CAL
edonia or New Guinea-all had their
adherents among amateur strate-
gists Specializing on what point the
Japanese would choose as their In
vaslcn springboard.
MacArthur's first task was 10
build q defensive force out Of the
fragments Of Australian and Dutch
troops that were available. There
Wass11o talk Of an offensive in those
days: In fact, everybody was busy
working out a plan for a last-ditch
stand designed to save Australia S
principal cities In event the Japa-
uese over-ran the hinterlands.
The United States Army air force,
Working against tremendous odds,
held Port Darwin and Port MoreSby,
n New Guinea, while Macarthur
STAN developed the available forces
into 3 defensive team. Australian
troops came home to defend their
native soil, American soldiers-in
numbers which cannot even be
limited at In this dispatch-arrived
70 hloSter the few u. s. troops who
had arrived earlier.
Australia began to change from
m agricultural nation dependent
On Britain's factories to an indus
E1al country which today Is pro-
dAacing fighter planes, bombers,
tanks, guns and ships In small but
encouraging quantities.
Gradually the United Nations be-
aan TO win succeSses-Milne Bay,
Rapua, the battle Of the Coral Sea
Japanese conveys were placed I'M
der almost constant attack.
The net result was that the enc
my was checked. Macarthur used
BIS FIRST year here to win a stale
mate. The fluid, uncertain front
That existed a year ago has been
frozen into strong defensive posi-
lions on both sides. Now 1t Is a
race to see who will mount the most
men and equipment along the de-
Eensive line and then move over tc
Me offensive.
Macarthur seldom is seen by hi