Australia during the late 1930s and early 1940s had every reason to be anxious. By 1940, Japan had announced its intent of creating the "Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" - essentially, a ring of puppet states in Asia dedicated to supplying Japan with needed raw materials. This goal was spawned by the racist belief that Japan was culturally and racially superior to her neighbors, and the only barrier Japan faced in realizing this dream was the naval threat of the United States. To immobilize this danger, the Japanese targeted the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor - tune in next week.
Meanwhile in Australia, tensions were mounting. Following the Nanking Massacre, a group of dockside workers in Sydney refused to load a shipment of pig iron bound for Japan, for fear it would come back as bullets and bombs. Then Attorney-General Robert Menzies threw down the gauntlet, ordering the steel works shut down and sent the iron to Japan anyway. For the rest of his life, Australians would know Robert Menzies as "Pig-Iron Bob."
In another Carter-esque blunder, newly elected Prime Minister Menzies announced in March 1941 that Australia faced no inherent danger in the Pacific. In fact, according to Peter Fitzsimons' book "Kokoda," Menzies wanted to "Draw closer to Japan and appreciate its problems." The victims of Nanking may have advocated a more preemptive approach to diplomacy with Japan.
With the American Pacific Fleet seemingly out of commission, Japan seized Wake, Guam and Hong Kong. Next, the Japanese conquered Singapore, the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines, thereby securing much-needed oil and rubber resources. Finally, the Japanese focused on New Guinea and seized the northeastern coast.
Looking at a map of the Pacific, New Guinea lies perilously close to the northern coastline of Australia. In fact, the puzzle-piece dimensions of the two suggest that at one time they may have been united. On July 21, 1942, Japanese troops began marching across New Guinea toward Port Moresby, a strategic base that served as the last line of defense for mainland Australia. If the Japanese succeeded in taking Port Moresby, they would be within easy striking range of Australia. An invasion seemed chillingly forthcoming, especially after Japanese submarines were seen in Sydney harbor and coastal cities like Darwin and Brisbane were bombed.
All right, my friends check out this climactic plot twist: With Japanese troops just off the coast of northern Australia, the Australian government decided to respond. Except, there was a problem - nearly the entire Australian Army was in North Africa fighting the Afrika Korps with the British! In 1942, the Land Down Under was left almost completely unguarded! On May 28, General Tojo issued a final warning, calling Australia to surrender to Japan.
The race was on - as Japanese troops trickled overland across New Guinea, an Australian militia had to be formed, trained and shipped to Port Moresby to halt the "unstoppable" advance of the Spirit Warriors. The Aussie troops that answered the call boarded a ship and steamed north; some of who had never even held a rifle. Firing exercises were conducted on the ship, en route to the front lines.
Arriving at Port Moresby, the Australians were scantily unsuited for jungle warfare. The khaki fatigues they wore were visible miles away in the jungle, and boots meant for the desert rotted in the perpetual humidity of tropical New Guinea. Having just learned how to fire their rifles, it was up to these soldiers to trek north, intercept the Japanese and force them back.
The eastern portion of New Guinea is bisected by the Kokoda Trail, a single-lane footpath worn smooth by generations of native feet. It does not travel in a straight line, nor does the trail follow any logical route - it meanders up and through crevices and mountains, along and through torrential rivers, and at a length of 60 miles can take up to 10 days to complete (compared to a 30-minute flight). It was along this track that some of the bloodiest fighting occurred in World War II.
As the Australians advanced north along the trail, their supply line became hopelessly stretched, and initial contact with the Japanese inflicted horrendous casualties on the Aussies. Men who were wounded had to trek back on their own, or were left to the advancing enemy. A favorite tactic of the Japanese was to torture a captured Australian soldier - his screams were meant to lure his friends into ambush.
Far from defeated, the Australians held on with defiant, unconquerable resolve. As the Japanese advanced, their supply line too became stretched, handing the advantage back to the Aussies. The tables turned, and the Australians beat back the Japanese Imperial Army, thereby winning the first land battle against the Spirit Warriors in World War II. However, as the Australians re-took their positions along the Kokoda Track, they made a startling discovery: Fallen comrades were found as near skeletons; all flesh had been stripped from their bodies. The Japanese were cannibalizing their victims.
Finally, in August 1942, the Australian Imperial Army was shipped from Africa to New Guinea to relieve the beleaguered militia. However, these defiant soldiers would never admit to "needing" relief. In a reference that captures the resolve and determination of Australia's finest, consider this:
One wounded soldier was seen hobbling back along the Kokoda Trail. He only had one leg - the other had been blown off and was reduced to a bloody stump. When asked why he refused help, he replied that there were others who were worse off than he.
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a weekly column for Friday editions of the Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
Meanwhile in Australia, tensions were mounting. Following the Nanking Massacre, a group of dockside workers in Sydney refused to load a shipment of pig iron bound for Japan, for fear it would come back as bullets and bombs. Then Attorney-General Robert Menzies threw down the gauntlet, ordering the steel works shut down and sent the iron to Japan anyway. For the rest of his life, Australians would know Robert Menzies as "Pig-Iron Bob."
In another Carter-esque blunder, newly elected Prime Minister Menzies announced in March 1941 that Australia faced no inherent danger in the Pacific. In fact, according to Peter Fitzsimons' book "Kokoda," Menzies wanted to "Draw closer to Japan and appreciate its problems." The victims of Nanking may have advocated a more preemptive approach to diplomacy with Japan.
With the American Pacific Fleet seemingly out of commission, Japan seized Wake, Guam and Hong Kong. Next, the Japanese conquered Singapore, the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines, thereby securing much-needed oil and rubber resources. Finally, the Japanese focused on New Guinea and seized the northeastern coast.
Looking at a map of the Pacific, New Guinea lies perilously close to the northern coastline of Australia. In fact, the puzzle-piece dimensions of the two suggest that at one time they may have been united. On July 21, 1942, Japanese troops began marching across New Guinea toward Port Moresby, a strategic base that served as the last line of defense for mainland Australia. If the Japanese succeeded in taking Port Moresby, they would be within easy striking range of Australia. An invasion seemed chillingly forthcoming, especially after Japanese submarines were seen in Sydney harbor and coastal cities like Darwin and Brisbane were bombed.
All right, my friends check out this climactic plot twist: With Japanese troops just off the coast of northern Australia, the Australian government decided to respond. Except, there was a problem - nearly the entire Australian Army was in North Africa fighting the Afrika Korps with the British! In 1942, the Land Down Under was left almost completely unguarded! On May 28, General Tojo issued a final warning, calling Australia to surrender to Japan.
The race was on - as Japanese troops trickled overland across New Guinea, an Australian militia had to be formed, trained and shipped to Port Moresby to halt the "unstoppable" advance of the Spirit Warriors. The Aussie troops that answered the call boarded a ship and steamed north; some of who had never even held a rifle. Firing exercises were conducted on the ship, en route to the front lines.
Arriving at Port Moresby, the Australians were scantily unsuited for jungle warfare. The khaki fatigues they wore were visible miles away in the jungle, and boots meant for the desert rotted in the perpetual humidity of tropical New Guinea. Having just learned how to fire their rifles, it was up to these soldiers to trek north, intercept the Japanese and force them back.
The eastern portion of New Guinea is bisected by the Kokoda Trail, a single-lane footpath worn smooth by generations of native feet. It does not travel in a straight line, nor does the trail follow any logical route - it meanders up and through crevices and mountains, along and through torrential rivers, and at a length of 60 miles can take up to 10 days to complete (compared to a 30-minute flight). It was along this track that some of the bloodiest fighting occurred in World War II.
As the Australians advanced north along the trail, their supply line became hopelessly stretched, and initial contact with the Japanese inflicted horrendous casualties on the Aussies. Men who were wounded had to trek back on their own, or were left to the advancing enemy. A favorite tactic of the Japanese was to torture a captured Australian soldier - his screams were meant to lure his friends into ambush.
Far from defeated, the Australians held on with defiant, unconquerable resolve. As the Japanese advanced, their supply line too became stretched, handing the advantage back to the Aussies. The tables turned, and the Australians beat back the Japanese Imperial Army, thereby winning the first land battle against the Spirit Warriors in World War II. However, as the Australians re-took their positions along the Kokoda Track, they made a startling discovery: Fallen comrades were found as near skeletons; all flesh had been stripped from their bodies. The Japanese were cannibalizing their victims.
Finally, in August 1942, the Australian Imperial Army was shipped from Africa to New Guinea to relieve the beleaguered militia. However, these defiant soldiers would never admit to "needing" relief. In a reference that captures the resolve and determination of Australia's finest, consider this:
One wounded soldier was seen hobbling back along the Kokoda Trail. He only had one leg - the other had been blown off and was reduced to a bloody stump. When asked why he refused help, he replied that there were others who were worse off than he.
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a weekly column for Friday editions of the Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
