COMMAND QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 5

COMMAND QUESTION

PUSH AGAINST JAPAN

SYDNEY, September 15. General Mac Arthur is the Americans' logical choice to command a big push against Japan, said Senator A. B. Chandler, a member of the Military Affairs Committee, commenting on a cabled report that the supreme commander in the South-west Pacific might have to be second to Admiral Mountbatten in the campaign aimed at Tokio.

"General Mac Arthur is pre-eminently the best-qualified man to conduct the drive' against Japan," added Senator Chandler. "It is inconceivable that anyone should try to side-track him. If such an attempt were successful it would be one of the greatest mistakes of the war.

"I met Admiral Mountbatten before his latest appointment. I don't know what his instructions are, but from what I have seen and learnt from army men in countries I have visited it seems to me that our chances yof an early and complete victory over Japan would be greatly enhanced if General Mac Arthur were allowed to direct the campaign."

An Australian Government spokesman said in Melbourne that the Government had the greatest confidence in General Mac Arthur and would vigorously resist any attempt to lessen his authority.

AdmiralMountbatten's command was separate from the South-west Pacific, and there was no suggestion that the two should overlap. If there was any joint action General Mac Arthur would control any forces operating from the South-west Pacific.