Instructions for American Servicemen in Australia, 1942

Briefly Noted Instructions for American Servicemen in Australia, 1942. The University of Chicago Press. 64 pages; black and white illustrations; $9.99.

During World War II more than one million U.S. soldiers were deployed to Australia, few of whom were familiar with that nation. Luckily, the U.S. Army's Special Service Division prepared a pocket guide to acclimate troops, with such handy tips as "Australians eat and drink too," and "the Australian has few equals in the world at swearing." Pressing concerns were addressed to relieve anxieties: "Housewives 'down under' are supposed to make coffee with a pinch of salt and a dash of mustard, but that's probably just another Axis propaganda story."

This vintage guide has been reproduced, including charts and illustrations. As the handbook touches briefly on geography, history and culture, it emphasizes similarities between Americans and Australians. To promote unity, the guide advises that if one encounters a cultural inconvenience, "There's no use beefing about it-it's their country." This attempt to foster camaraderie was essential for a successful defense of the country if Japan attacked. A quick read, this pocket guide provides an amusing and interesting glimpse of World War II-era Australia and Australian-American relations.