PACIFIC NAVAL COMMAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1942, Page 6

PACIFIC NAVAL COMMAND

ALLIED CO-OPERATION.

LONDON, February 14. Under the new naval changes in the South-west Pacific, Vice-Admiral C. E. L. Helfrich, of the Tloyal Netherlands Navy, commands all the naval forces in the ABDA area, Commodore J. A, Collins, former captain of the Australian cruiser Sydney, commands the British and Australian forces, and Vice-Admiral William Classford commands the United States forces. Both are directly under tlie control of ViceAdmiral Helfrich, who in turn operates under General Sir Archibald Wavell. _ _ It is understood that neither Commodore Collins nor Vice-Admiral Glassford’s posts are seagoing. ViceAdmiral Sir Geoffrey Layton has an independent command and is operating directly on orders from the Admiralty. His force will co-operate with Vice-Admiral Helfrich’s. Vice-Admiral Helfrich said to-day that if reinforcements could be brought up soon, the Allies would be able to weaken the Japanese by attacking their supply lines. ADMIRAL HART’S POSITION. WASHINGTON, February 13. At a Press conference, President Roosevelt said that Admiral Hart was going home from the East indies with the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet. He explained that this designation still existed for a section of the fleet, although for the purposes of co-operation the united nations’ and American sea forces in the Pacific battle areas have been called American forces of the south-west Pacific. • A reporter remarked that ’some of Admiral Hart’s friends thought tnat he had had an unfortunate deal. President Roosevelt replied: “That is tvpical. Admiral Hart is not well.

JAPANESE COMMERCE RAIDERS.

LONDON, February 14. Admiral the Earl of Cork and Orrery. in a speech, said that Japan had built a special type of motor-ship designed as a commerce raider. _ We will soon hear of them operating in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic,” he said. Admiral the Earl of Cork and Orrery commanded H.M.S. Repulse m the Great War, and was Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet from 1933 to 1935.