OFFENSIVE BASE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 99, 26 March 1942, Page 5

OFFENSIVE BASE

AUSTRALIA'S ROLE. CANBERRA, March 25.

The Prime Minister (Mr Curtin) revealed to-day in the Federal House of Representatives that General MacArthur is to be given authority within Australia of "tho highest order."

He said: "United command in the person of one who enjoys such authority both here and in America is a vital condition for the detence of Australia and for tho gradual organisation of offensive action against Japan. This offensive action we arc now undertaking with the powerful aid of the United States armed torces." Mr Curtin for the first time revealed officially that the Allies visualise Australia's function in the war as an offensive base in the process of driving Japan from the South-West Pacific. "That is in fact our goal, but let us not exaggerate the speed with which we can reach it. We must ensure that Australia is held and to that end accumulate all the resources open to us. The calamitous trend of events since the invasion of Malaya has reinforced the view that the Anzac Area is an area vital to the world war." Mr Curtin announced that the conduct of operations in the Anzac Area would be vested in the supreme commander. There would be local commanders of the Australian forces for the Navy and Army and General Brett (U.S.A.) would be the local commander of tho Air Force.

Mr Curtin again emphasised the need tor the creation of a Pacific Council in Washington a.ud added that there could bo no dispute that the developments of the past month had far outrun the arrangements concluded last February for the division of control in the Pacific area between London and Washington. Tho Commonwealth, he said, had become a much more active partner in the operational direction of the war.

The Premier pointed out that since Japan entered the war the Commonwealth had concentrated its efforts, firstly, on securing the rapid disposition of men and supplies in the maximum possible strength at points where they could be used most effectively; secondly, in securing speed and efficiency in the higher Allied war direction in which respect General MacArthur could count to the limit on the co-operation of tho Government, people and all the Australian wartime authorities. Intimate discussions, had been held with General MacArthur since his arrival to define without delay the new arrangements in the Commonwealth which his appointment entailed.

Dr. Evatt in Washington was pursuing further plans the Government had in wind for the better adaptation of the machinery ot tue Allied war direction to the present needs of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific area. When the Council was established in Washington major policy questions would be referred back to the War Cabinet by the Australian representative either in London or Washington. Mr Curtin explained that the Australian service advisory machinery would be a chief of staff committee in Australia as general advisers to the War Cabinet except where, on the higher strategical questions, the supreme or local commanders might be consulted. The service representatives in London and Washington would maintain liaison with the United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff and the United States Chiefs of Staff. Mr Curtin said the report received from America imposed a high obligation on Australia to spare nothing in her own effort. Other reports left little doubt regarding the immense production effort Germany had undertaken in anticipation of making her offensive decisive by the end of 1942. Australia also welcomed the opportunity for increasing contact with China, whose disappointment had been rather marked since the failure of the Malayan campaign. - "Australia and India must be held, declared Mr Curtin, "because they constitute two bases on which the whole Allied position in Asia and the Pacific depends and from which tho offensive will flow to ultimate victory." PACIFIC COUNCIL ADVOCATES. A London cable says the New Zealand Minister to Washington (Mr Nash) saw President Roosevelt yesterday, and afterward said that he thought Australia's demand for a Pacific War Council operating from Washington would be settled before the end of the week.

Mr Nash thought, also, that a decision would be made about the representation of Australia and New Zealand on the Anglo-American Combined Chiefs of Staff group. President Roosevelt said yesterday that he believed Australia and New Zealand were satisfied, with the present set-up, but if more formal organisation was desired, such as a Pacific War Council in Washington, some such body could be set up.