Strong bow, drawing for cartoon in 'The Daily Telegraph'

Depicts a Japanese soldier aiming a bow and arrow at Darwin. The bow is labelled 'the northern island manace'. It makes reference to the possibility of an invasion of Australia after the wave of Japanese victories in Borneo, Celebes, Ambon and the Philippines, the fall of Singapore and the capture of Java, all by March 1942. In February 1942 prime minister John Curtin had described the fall of Singapore as 'Australia's Dunkirk' and that the ensuing war would become the 'Battle of Australia'. This cartoon reflects the acute feeling of anxiety prevalent in Australia between February and June 1942. It draws attention to the need for Australia to concentrate her troops on the defence of the homeland and that other battle sites should take second place until Australia's security is assured.