UNIFIED COMMAND

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 287, 3 November 1942, Page 2

UNIFIED COMMAND

THE PACIFIC THEATRE. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 3. “The Allies’ maximum effort in this theatre could only be achieved under unified control,” declared the deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr W. Hughes). For a generation Japan had concentrated on building up what was proving to bo the greatest military power in the world and American and Australian troops were not faring well against her. “At best we arc holding our own, but no more than that,” Mr Hughes said. “Japan’s soldiers move under unified control and with the complete co-ordination of their sea, land, and air forces. They are not confined to prescribed areas beyond tyhicli they cannot operate. To-morrow troops from Rabaul or Kokoda could be moved to Guadalcanal. There are no artificial lines limiting the authority of the Japanese High Command.” Against such an enemy tho Allies in the Solomons could muster forces only within the area allotted to the American admiral. Although he might be in danger of being- overwhelmed by superior numbers, ho could not call on General MacAnhur’s Forces since they were outside his area.

Tho fact that tho Japanese make no distinction between the battle for the Solomons and the battle for New Guinea, regarding them as part of one campaign, is also stressed by the Glasgow Herald, commenting editorially on the South Pacific situation for tho second successive day. The paper says that the fate of Guadalcanal is still in the balance, adding, “The fact that General MaoArthtir’s communique announcing the latest raids on Japaneso shipping begins with the words ‘supporting tho genei'al Soloipons operations,’ is likely to increase rather than allay misgivings about the lack of unity in the American command in this area ”