The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1945. SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC COMMAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 200, 24 August 1945, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1945. SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC COMMAND

TM'HEN General Mac Arthur relinquishes control of the South-west Pacific area south of the Philippines a historic command will be broken up. The General arrived in Australia when the Pacific war was at its most critical stage. The defence of the Philippines was doomed to failure, and it wis only a matter of weeks until General Wainwright surrendered. There seemed nothing left to halt the Japanese. At this time General Mac Arthur was subjected to bitter criticism of his decision to obey his President's order and leave his doomed forces in the Philippines. His subsequent appointment as Allied Supreme Commander in the area delineated as the South-west Pacific produced a mixed chorus of condemnation and approval. Even families were sharply divided on the question of his fitness for such an important task. His antagonists were quick to seize on his flair for attracting public attention (a characteristic which he shares with Field-Marshal Montgomery) and they greeted derisively his pledge to the men of Bataan and Corregidor that he would return. Whatever he may have thought (and his thoughts must have been extremely bitter at times), General Mac Arthur went steadily about the jcb of placing the South-west Pacific in a position to fight back. Time was needed, and in New Guinea and the Solomons it was secured.

From the first General Mac Arthur worked hand in glove with the late John Curtin. The crisis which placed an American general in command of the Australian forces was fraught with the most destructive possibilities. But the General and the Prime Minister realised the mortal peril of the country, and what the soldier asked the politician was quick to grant. The work went smoothly ahead. Men and supplies poured into Australia in an ever-increasing flow. In the north the Japanese were held in New Guinea, then pushed back. Up from the South Pacific area came the powerful thrust which culminated in the occupation of the Bougainville base, and the New Zealanders' seizure of Green Island. The stage was set for the amazing hops which, as he had promised, landed General Mac Arthur back in Manila.

New Zealand, through the arbitrary decision of the Allied Chiefs of Staff, was placed outside the area entrusted to General Mac Arthur, and the wisdcm of this decision was frequently questioned. The South Pacific area was, and still is, a naval command, and it was probably necessary, owing to the vast distances between the scenes of action, that separate areas of responsibility be altotted. General Mac Arthur has recognised the importance of the South Pacific campaigns in his farewell message to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, in which he says that the battles in this area "contributed greatly to the success of our campaigns in the Scuth-west Pacific." By June, 1944, the advanced forces of the south and south-west areas had come together, and General Mac Arthur's jurisdiction was increased to include the Northern Solomons. The operational command was centralised. Ln recent months Australian divisions have been responsible for all fighting south of the Philippines, but General Mac Arthur retained supreme command and he went ashore with them in Borneo. His bold strategy was seen in the series of amphibious landings which so confused the Japanese garrisons. From the beginning the South-west Pacific Command faced tremendous difficulties, but as they were met they were overcome, and a great share of the credit must be given to the inspiration of the commander. As the British, Australian and New Zealand Governments resume control of the territories which for over three years have been known as the South-West Pacific Command they can look with satisfaction on the record of Allied teamwork which, under General Mac Arthur's skilful direction, did so much to make an early dissolution of the command possible.