April 25, 1942 – News From Voice Of China, Radio Australia, Radio Tokyo – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
While Japanese attacks were continuing on Port Moresby and in Burma, there was cause for some hope. As the allies solidified into one cohesive unit, coordinated counter-attacks were on the rise, as was the optimism. News that the first contingent of American troops arrived in India with the express proviso that this was only as support for Indian troops in anticipation of a Japanese invasion and not a desire to meddle in Indian politics.
Voice of China was reporting that opium addiction among the population in Japanese-occupied parts of China was on the rise, which was said to be the direct fault of the Japanese for encouraging drug addiction. News of strengthening ties between Chungking and New Delhi were being reported as Chinese Davis Cup Tennis player W.C. Choy, who had recently escaped Hong Kong and was on his way to Chungking was soon to be playing a series of exhibition matches before going to India for a series of matches with Indian players for China Relief.
And this day marked the eve of ANZAC Day in Australia. Anzac Day became a day on which to commemorate the lives of Australians and New Zealanders which were lost in World War One as well and in subsequent wars. The meaning of the day has been further broadened to include those killed in all the military operations in which the countries have been involved. Anzac Day was first commemorated at the Australian War Memorial in 1942, but, due to government orders preventing large public gatherings in case of Japanese air attack, it was a small affair and was neither a march nor a memorial service. Anzac Day has been annually commemorated at the Australian War Memorial ever since. In New Zealand, Anzac Day saw a surge in popularity immediately after World War II.
And that’s some of the news reported by Voice of China, the English-language service of Radio Tokyo and Radio Australia for this April 25, 1942.
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