This is CBS, I on the World. I'm John Batchel.

Strategic thinking and weapon systems for states, especially states that are at risk.

Very popularly of editor and publisher of defense and foreign affairs, writing about the 21st century in Canada and Australia looks at the 20th century and an

event that rocked the world at the time. The surrender of the British Army in Singapore to the

Japanese predators coming down the peninsula in early 1940. That rocked everybody, including Winston Churchill, when they learned about it

because the British had been expected to make themselves a fortress. However, it did have the

positive effect in Australia that is an illustration of how sovereign states come to decisions

about weapons and commitment and organizing their own

defense. Gregory, what happened when Singapore surrendered? What was the opinion in Canberra and

Sydney, Victoria? Thank you. Well, when Singapore collapsed in 1941, it was profoundly important for Australia because

there was nowhere literally that was off the target list for Japan.

It was going to go south further to what has now become the Indonesian archipelago and was

in sight of Australia.

In fact, shortly after Pearl Harbor, in fact, they actually had a massive air strike on

the northern Australian city of Darwin, which destroyed much of the city.

It was a much bigger attack than the attack on Pearl Harbor, and it involved

also the fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor, so it was very significant. But the shock of Australia

standing alone, without the promised help from Britain, because Britain was under siege at home,

meant that Australia had to make some strategic decisions.

And the Australian government then, of Prime Minister John Curtin,

essentially chose to throw everything in with the United States.

You had Douglas MacArthur, of course, retreating to Australia shortly afterwards.

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