Manus Base
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Funny Story Department:
Cost of Australian Establishment Enormous, Says Minister
WHEN he arrived in Cairns, Queens land recently, after inspecting the former US Naval Base at Manus, Admiralty Islands, the Australian Min ister for the Navy, Mr. Riordan said that enormous expenditure would be necessary to make Manus a first-class Reconstruction of the base on the Aus tralian pattern could be started with the remnants of the buildings and equipment left behind by the Americans and by moving nart of the RAN base on Dregar Island (KG). Manv of the buildings on Manus and the water purification plant were in good order, said the Minister, but the jungle was fast claiming cleared
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Mr’ Riordan is not telling us a thing.
Readers are recommended to look at tne cover picture, “PIM”, for August This was Manus when it was in full fighting trim and under the control of the United States, who spent millions in constructing the base during the war. Australia could have had the United States Navy per manently established on Manus, with great benefit to herself; but Government shilly-shally and Dr. Evatt s exaggerated