AMERICAN NAVAL BASE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 23, 21 October 1944, Page 6

AMERICAN NAVAL BASE

Closing In Auckland DEVELOPMENTS IN PACIFIC WAR (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 20. The United 'States naval operating base in Auckland will be closed on Sunday morning, and its officers and enlisted men will leave New Zealand shortly. The American flag which flies over the base headquarters at Mechanics’ Bay will be lowered at 9 a.m., and this small ceremony will virtually close a period in New Zealand history which has been of great significance to this and neighbouring countries, and of intense interest to all New Zealanders. A bare handful df navy personnel will be left in Auckland temporarily till such time as the communications which they have maintained can 'be transferred to New Zealand control. The only other American sailors which Aucklanders can expect to see in future will be any who might come in visiting warships, or as ai’med guard crews for merchantmen. The 3rd United States Marine Corps base depot will also remain for the time being. In addition to certain duties which have prolonged its tour of service iu New Zealand, it will attend to various matters the navy has not been able to complete. It is not yet known when the United States Army forces and service command in New Zealand, now much smaller than a few months ago, will decommission its establishment in buildings. This consists mainly of portion of the Dilworth Building, the whole of the Waverley Hotel, an enlisted men's encampment known as Camp Hale in the outer Domain, and the 39th General Hospital in Cornwall Park. In addition to 'being commandant of the naval operating base, the senior naval officer, now Commander J. L. Robertson, has been New Zealand representative of the commander of the South Pacific area, now Vice-Admiral J. H. Newton. This representation will be maintained, in the person of Captain Herman Gingrich, Supply Corps, United (States Navy, whose main office will be in Wellington. However, he will maintain a subordinate office in Auckland. Purchasing Board Remaining.

The Joint Purchasing Board will also remain in New Zealand to control such further supply operations as are necessary for the conduct of the war. Its stay is indefinite, but will probably outlast the war. However, though this outline of the future shows that some American activities will continue throughout the next few months, while others will be maintained Indefinitely, the decommissioning of the naval operating base, heir of those days of the 1942 emergency when Auckland was the actual headquarters of the whole South Pacific area theatre of war, itself marks the close of a period because the South Pacific area and the campaigns which have been conducted within it have been under the commander of a naval officer. The succession has been Vice-Admiral R. L. Ghormley, Admiral W. F. Halsey, and Vice-Admiral Newton. Naval activities iu New Zealand have naturally been of predominant authority. Thus the departure of the naval base, which was born in the early months of 1942, waxed in 1942-43, and waned in 1944, turns the first page of the final chapter of the American story in New Zealand. It also automatically indicates the immense change which has taken place in the Pacific war in the past two years. Emergency brought the American ■ Navy to Auckland —success takes it away.