A Warning!

Japanese Squadron off New Guinea During Crisis

THE following was published, as a cablegram from Sydney, in the “New Zealand Herald” on October 8 “It is reliably reported in Sydney that during the European crisis last week a squadron of Japanese cruisers was ob served off New Guinea. The Defence Department confirms the report, but is exceedingly reticent regarding the af lair , Certain well-known New Guniea re sidents, late in September, sent their lamihes to Australia hurriedly by the mail ’planes, and the Territory buzzed with reports of Japanese warships close at hand.

The Australian Government has main tained its usual silence, and the Aus tralian newspapers have been dumb; but it is as plain as anything can be that for a couple of days (September 27 and Australia, and all British and French Territory in the Western Pacific, was in deadly danger. The Japanese were ready to attack; the Anglo-French fleets were needed in Europe; and the only thing that could have saved us from being over-run by immensely superior lorces of Asiatics was the American fleet, now based on Hawaii.

The danger passed; but it should serve as a warning.