Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
BY ARTHUR r. FORD.

LONDON, Ontaria, Jan. 1.-What
about the Americans in Australia:
How are the Americans getting
along with the AAstralians9 What
influence will their presence in suct
large numbers In the Antipodes have
upon the life of the Dominion ant
upon its political future?
To obtain the proper picture it i.
necessary to give little back.
ground. The only picture of Amer.
lean life which the ordinary Austria.
Han has ever secured has beer
through the movies-which art
largely Of American origin. He see.
the United States through the eye.
of Hollywood. There was thus q
lot of glamor about the American
soldiers. and most Australian girls
In particular, had an idea that al
Americans were millionaires.
After Pearl Harbor, and especially
after the fall of Singapore, Australis
was IN desperate plight. The
flower Of the Australian Army ane
all of its equipment was in Africa
The country was almost defenseles.
and 1t was a country in state Of
near-panic which saw the Japanese
marching southwark. 1t seemed. a!
If nothing could stop them.
Australia had always put its faith
in Singapore and the British Navy
as its main defense against any
possible invasion from the north
There was reaction against Britain
There was feeling that Britain
had let her down. There was ar
appeal to the United States for aio
in this time OF crisis.
Yanks Viewed as Saviors.
So when Gen. Macarthur arrived
with American troops. they were re-
ceived with almost hysterical en-.
thusiasm. Nothing was too good fol-
them. With their snappy uniforms
and their pockets full of money they
were everything that the Australian
girls had pictured them. The Aus
tralian girls fell for them and fell
for them hard. The Australian
soldier with his useful, but rather
slouchy uniform and his less gallant
manners was pushed to one side.
Inere were many marriages with
American soldiers. There were nj
accurate figures obtainable, but il
was said that in Sydney alone there
were between 1000 and 5000 mar.
riages. There have been 30 divorce.
in Perth alone in which American
ofiicers or soldiers have been named
as correspondents.
When the Australian soldiers
came back from Africa and Europ,
there was naturally good deal O.
resentment over the situation the,
found. These "diggers' had fought
In Africa, in Greece, in Crete anc
in Syria. Now they were beins
rushed to New Guinea, because the,
were hardened and seasoned troops
to face the worst fighting in tn,
world.
The Australians started talkin,
about chocolate soldiers. The Amer.
leans retorted that they had com,
TO Australian to save them and thu
Australians shot back: I'VE thought
you were refugees from Pearl Har.
Dor" And so frankly there were 8
lot OF clashes between American anc
Australian soldiers.
NJ. P.'s Patrol Together.
However. that has blown over now
and all the time we were in Aus.
tralia We did not see a solitary
incident. nor did we hear of one
The Americans and Australians are
getting along we'll together as one
could expect when soldiers in sucf
large numbers meet together. IT
Brisbane, which is overrun witt
soldiers. both American and Aus.
tralian, the authorities have done
a smart thing. They send out the