Imperial Valley press., 1943-09-08
1Mu Dau
BY
ROOSEVELT

(Tr. Nix. Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
Reproduction in whole or part
fOrbidden.)
CANBHRRA, Australia-(Delay-
ed)-There is a curious sense OF
excitement about seeing a contl-
nent for the first time when you
never really expected to see IT,. IL
seemed so improbable to me that
I would ever take this trip, that 1
still feel a little as though l were
in a dream world.
My first glimpse of Australia was
its wooded and indented shore with
fine sand beaches, and here and
there rocks and high cliffs. Our
glimpse of Sydney was from the
air. except for a brief stop at the
airport for weather reports. Then
we went on to Canberra. The gov
ernor General and Lady Gorrie, the
prime minister and many common
wealth ministers and their wives
met us at the airport. A larger
group of camera men faced us than
I had ever seen, even at home.
1 inspected the RAAF guard of
honor, commanded by Flight Lieut.
enant Cowley, and then we drove to
Government house, passing through
the military college, which was es-
tablished b. Lord Kitchener and
modelled after our West Point. was
interested also to learn that this
capital city was planned by an
American. Later the Prime Minis
ter told me at dinner that the fed.
eral sphere was greatly influenced
by Alexander Hamilton's ideas.
VERY SIMILAR
It would seem that the United
States and Australia had many
reasons to be similar. Certainly
parts of our country resemble this
country. Mr.. Curtin told me that
he had recently been on what we
would call ranch, which extended
over 10000 square miles. I don't
know whether even Texas could do
better than that, and I know that
my son, who owns a ranch there,
is going to &c jealous.
Once arrived in this hOSpitable
house we had tea, and then I said
a few words on the radio and saw
the press. They are full of ques-
tions here and I recognized at once
a woman correspondent, who has
been in Washington, and one of
our army correspondents. He re-
minded me that he had last inter-
viewed me in Phoenix, Arizona, add
ing that on that day he had scarce
ly expected that our next meeting
would be out here.
News has come through that the
Eighth army has landed in italy
and we are all anXiously waiting
for further details. The Russians
also seem to be steadily advancing.
How times have changed in the
space of year, and yet we must
not relax in any of our war efforts,
since all of us desire to shorten the
war and the only way to do so is
TO increase our shipping capacity
and our production of planes, NUM-
tons and our trained fighting men.
Jaw GENERAL KNUDSEN
Last night I was fortunate en-
ough to see Judge Patterson and
General Knudsen and their party.
[ sensed that they were impressed
oy what thev had seen.
When you are at home this whole
theatre of war seems very far away.
1t Is not until you get here that
you realize what a colossal Job our
men have done and what difficult
les OF, transportation have had to
De overcome, without taking into
account the hard, desperate fight
ing which had to go on at the same
lime. Talk to any servicemen who
lid the first magnificent Job out
here, and they will say how differ
mt things are now. Airmen will
ell ;ou that they notice a great
difference in the flow of supplies.
1t must have been bad for every
one when hey had to try to do too
much with too little. 1 hope 1 shall
zee some of the Australian men as
veil as our own while am here.
or 1 have always had such admir-
'tion for the fighting record they
Established in the last war and t.
which they have added so m .ch
in this war.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT !
Copyright sl943, by United eFat-