NEW ZEALANDERS AS FIGHTERS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24272, 1 June 1944, Page 4

NEW ZEALANDERS AS FIGHTERS

Admiral Halsey’s Tribute SOUTH PACIFIC OPERATIONS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 31. A remarkable interview was given to Auckland reporters to-night by Admiral W. F. Halsey, U.S.N.,' whose achievements as commander of the south Pacific area have earned him world-wide attention, and made him a national hero in the United States. They have also earned him the respect of all New Zealanders who have served under his command. Of these New Zealanders, Admiral Halsey said that words could not express his admiration for them. . “I have a very decided message to bring to New Zealand,” he said. “For 19 months now New Zealanders have been fighting under me, and if there are any better fighting men anywhere in the world I do not know where they are. The fighting qualities of New Zealanders have been shown not only in Europe in the last war, and in Europe and the Middle East in this war. but also in the south Pacific. I have seen their very splendid fighting qualities, and I would say that anybody who does not use New Zealanders when and where he can is a damned fool. They are going on to bigger and better things. I hope some of them will join hands with me in Tokyo u I am lucky enough to get there. New Zealand Airmen “New Zealand airmen have also been with me. I need say no more of what I think of them than this. In the forward air area, the commanding officer is a brigadier-general of the United States Marines, whose chief of staff is a captain of the United States Navy, and his operations officers is a wing commander of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. ' This speaks more than anything else I could say. It shows that team work, and only team work, is going to win this war. I may add that the Royal New Zealand Air Force, so far as I know, is the first branch of the Royal Air Force that has ever submitted to the operational control of another service. We have no apologies to make for this, and what has been accomplished in the Solomons campaign shows its value. .1 “The last trip I made where it was considered that fighter protection was necessary for the plane in which I was travelling was from Green Island to Emirau Island. I was very proud and very happy that it was a New Zealand fighter patrol which gave my aircraft the necessary protection for the trip.. Admiral Halsey also said he wished to thank New Zealand for the sympathetic and tremendously friendly attitude to Americans who had come down very tired and battle worn for rest and rehabilitation. “What your people have done," he said, "will never be forgotten by the United States. Help given in the way of supplies for our forces up above has been equally valuable.” , . . , Of his purpose in making his present visit to New Admiral Halsey said: "I have come to see the very fine people here, and to say hullo to them. Curiously enough, as an American, I am very fond of New Zealanders.” • Japanese “Washed Up” Admiral Halsey answered a number of questions about the flghtiqg in the south Pacific area. In all his answers he spoke in a level and deliberate voice, at the same time revealing the confidence which has inspired his men in all actions fought against the Japanese in his area. No one could listen to him without being convinced that in Admiral Halsey the south Pacific had a perfect leader. “There are now no more than about 15,000 Japanese in the south Pacific area," he said. “Of these no more than 2000 are effective. In other words, they are washed up in this area. “I would say,” he said, in answer to another question, “that Japanese planes knocked down by south Pacific forces have been in the neighbourhood of 4800, that the men killed (if you can call them men) have been conservatively between 100,000 and 150,000; and ships sunk have been so many that I cannot count them, and,cannot tabulate them without access to records.” Speaking of 19 months ago, Admiral Halsey said that on November 15, 1942, he had at his command one injured aircraft carrier, one injured battleship, one uninjured cruiser, “and I have forgotten how few destroyers.” However, said Admiral Halsey, with one of his frequent infectious smiles, “we had given the Japanese a pretty severe drubbing at that time, and they did not catch us. Now,” 'he cpntinued, “there is no Japanese in New Ireland, New Britain, New Guinea, Bougainville, Choiseul, and the rest of the Solomons, who can do anything to hinder anything we want to do. They might make a nuisance attack, but that is all they can do. The very grave danger New Zealand and Australia faced two years ago is absolutely obliterated. I think you people Were can breathe in perfect security."