Wail From Moscow

Says Yanks Still in N. Guinea and Tahiti

MOSCOW Radio, introducing the usual snarls into its world broadcast on May 27, said that Russia objected to the continued presence of United States troops in the Pacific Islands of New Guinea and Tahiti. The fact that USA had not removed those forces pointed to American determination to hold on im properly to Pacific Islands—and so forth.

The fact is that—except for a handful of men caring for graves, and another handful caring for United States property at Manus —there is not an American ser viceman left anvwhere in New Guinea or the Mandated Territory—they were withdrawn entirely late in 1945 or early 1946. There never were any American forces—apart from travellers—in Tahiti.

There were some at Borabora, where they maintained an air base for a while, during the Pacific War, but they went home, long since.

The United States, by right of conquest and virtue of service, is the dominant Power in the Pacific. All Western Euro pean peoples hope she may long remain there. But the Red Russians, peering out over the vast ocean from their frozen toe hold in the extreme north-west, are in tensely jealous of the Americans—Moscow wants to have a voice in Pacific affairs.

For that reason, every possible and im possible grievance is being lined up. If no real grievances are available, the Mus covites invent one, in the good old Com munist fashion.

Mrs. J. Cromie, of Port Moresby, re cently underwent an appendix operation in a Melbourne hospital. She is now making a successful recovery.