MACARTHUR’S CONFERENCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 28 July 1942, Page 6

MACARTHUR’S CONFERENCES

QUESTIONS OF WAR CORRESPONDENTS Sydney, July 23. General Douglas MacArthur, Com-mander-in-Chief in the South-West Pacific, isn’t given to speech-making. He has held only two Press conferences since his arrival in Australia. Both times he spoke "ofT the record ” What he said was not for publication. The General's second conference was held on Sunday last (19th July). His first was on 23rd March, just a few days after his arrival from the Philippines. The General MacArthur who spoke on Sunday seemed a different person from the tired, worn man who had just arrived in Australia. Then he was thin-faced and had obviously been under severe strain. On Sunday he looked physically fitter and his personality gripped his audience. War correspondents travelled up to 2000 miles from operational bases to hear General McArthur. Most of the editors of Australia’s leading newspapers attended. The General talked for two hours. Nobody left feeling that he had made a wasted trip. General MacArthur didn’t explain or expound—he illuminated his subject. He invited his audience to ask him any question they wished. Some of his replies took more than 15 minutes. Always he asked his questioner whether the answer was fully satisfactory. His replies were vigorous. His speech was picturesque and liberally garnished with slang. He didn't talk about the Army "moving fast.” He said. "They went like helJ-for-break-fast.” The Genera! began the conference smoking a cigar But he soon became absorbed in his subject matter—and only an inch of the cigar was smoked when the conference ended. His replies were made as he paced the floor, often seemingly oblivious of his audience and talking only to himself. Never for an instant did he lose the attention of a single individual present. Sometimes he spoke softly, often he was forceful, and once or twice emotion was evident in his voice. But always he talked man-to-man; he was completely informal: he didn't evade a single question.

At his first conference General MacArthur wore tropical drill. On Sunday he was In dress uniform, with four silver stars shining on each shoulder, and row upon row of medal ribbons extending from the top of his tunic pocket almost to the shoulder line. Marking the beginning of the top row was the pale blue silk, silverstarred ribbon of the Congressional Medal of Honour. America’s highest award.—PA. Special Australian Correspondent.