Might Be

The Horror That

Review of a New Book

AWAKENING", by Captain G. D.

I Mitchell. M.C.. D.C.M.: published by Angus & Robertson Ltd., Sydney, for 1/6.

Every Australian who knows the Paci fic probably has stood upon an Austra lian east-coast headland, at some time, and visualised an attack upon Australia by the Japanese. It is a picture that is frightfully easy to assemble in the mind.

There, away over the horizon to the north, is that overcrowded nation hungry for territory, armed tq the teeth in the modern fashion, and militarily ag gressive. Here is a country literally flow ing with milk and honey, carrying not one-tenth of the population that it might support, and offering an unprotected coast in which there is a suitable land ing-place at every mile.

Assuming that there was no British or United States navy to make the Japan ese stay at home, it is easy to imagine what would happen.

In this book “The Awakening” Captain Mitchell, an experienced military officer with an eye for strategy and a great gift for writing—he is one of the best-known of the A.I.F. writers—has imagined it.

The attackers come suddenly, without warning; and they find an Australia com pletely unprepared. They bombard the coastal districts, subject the civilian po pulation to the kind of murder, rape and ruthlessness that has been endured in recent times by the Chinese, and they occupy the fruitful Australian coast at a dozen points. The Australians, fighting like devils, with little more than their bare hands, against the most modern ar maments, are everywhere driven back into

the coastal range. In no time the strug gle becomes one between an overwhelm ing force of attackers, with the most modern equipment and backed by brist ling arrays of aeroplanes and warships, and men who have nothing, except a few bits and pieces of military equipment and whatever arms they can take from the enemy. We then are given the inevit able picture of pitiless guerilla warfare.

Neither side takes prisoners.

Not once in the book is the word “Asiatic” or “Japanese” used; but it is clear, from the first page, that the Jap anese are the attackers.

It is all imagination, of course —but no man who knows international poli tics and conditions in the Pacific, and has learned a little of military science, can deny that every frightful picture painted in these paragraphs is possible.

It is a startling book and it ends on a strange and unusual note.

As a plea for preparedness it should be in the hands of every Australian; and, because their fortunes are so closely bound up with those of the British Dominions in the South Seas, it should be read by every resident of the British Pacific Territories south of the Equator.

“Must Australia Fight?”, By

lon L. Idriess. Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney, at 57-.

Here is another book, by another well-known writer, on the same subject—the need for Aus tralian preparedness. “If Australia were at war, what should we do?” is Mr. Idriess’ opening line; and then, step by step, he exposes Australia’s strength and her weaknesses, and shows the things that Australians must do, now, if they would be prepared to strike a blow in their own defence. They are only seven million people, holding a continent, and their vulnerable coast line is thousands of miles long. But there is only one possible enemy, who would have to attack at the end of a long communication line; and Australia has three strong and friendly Pacific neighbours—the United States, the Netherlands Indies and New Zealand. Summed

up; The position is not one to invite despair, if only Australia will prepare now.

Memories Of Last War

“The Cruise Of The Raider

WOLF ', by Roy Alexander. Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney, at 7/6.

The “Wolf” slipped out of Germany in Nov ember, 1916, cruised 64,000 miles, destroyed 135,000 tons of allied shipping, and returned to Germany in February, 1918 —the only raider to escape the warships of the Allies. But, although the “Emden” and the “Seeadler” were lost— one by enemy gunfire and one by shipwreck— they somehow are better known to the present generation than the “Wolf”. Therefore, it is fitting that the story of the “Wolf” be told; and told it is, in one of the most fascinating post-war books we have read. Roy Alexander was a prisoner aboard the “Wolf” for the greater part of her voyage. (An account of how the “Wolf” captured the Burns, Philp steamer “Matunga”, near New Guinea, condensed from Mr. Alexander’s de tailed account of this extraordinary affair, will be published in the July issue.)

An Australian Novel

“THREE WENT WEST ’, by Gilbert Anstruther. Published by Angus & Rob ertson, Sydney, at 6/-.

An Australian novel, with a lively plot and plenty of quick-moving drama, against a background of the Australian bush and Australian mining camps. Two brothers love the same girl; and one tries to murder the other. Instead, he shoots the girl’s sister. Then he takes the girl and hides away in Central Aus tralia. Here, twenty years later, he is found eventually by his vengeance seeking brother. Mr. Anstruther displays technical skill in handling the plot, and working it out with swift dialogue, and literary cleverness in tell the story.

Rev. A. T. Hill, at the Melanesian Mis sion school on the island of Ugi, Solomon Islands, recently spent a short furlough in New Zealand,