SUPREME CHIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24250, 16 April 1942, Page 7

SUPREME CHIEF

MacABTHUE'S POSITION MR. ROOSEVELT EMPHATIC MR. CURTIN'S CONFIRMATION (■Heed. 11.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 14 At a press conference President Roosevelt reiterated in clear-cut terms that General Mac Arthur is in supreme command of all Allied military, naval and air forces in the South-west Pacific theatre of war. The statement was made in response to a reporter's request for comment on recent despatches indicating that there was some question about General Mac Arthur's authority. President Roosevelt declined to define the area too specifically, and pointed out that it would be better for the enemy to do the guessing. He said that common sense would govern the limitations. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. J. Curtin, made it clear this evening that, so far as Australia is concerned, there is no doubt whatever that General Mac Arthur is the supreme commander of the Allied forces in the South-west Pacific, says a Canberra message. He is in command of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Cablegrams between the Government and Dr. Evatt in Washington from April 3 to April 12 made it clear to the United States Government and chiefs of staff that Australia fully approved of Genera] Mac Arthur's appointment as Supreme Commander. The Prime Minister pointed out that any Supreme Commander naturally appointed his own commanders in consultation with the Government concerned. These appointments had been made. "We are under the direction of the Supreme Commander, General Mac Arthur," he said. A United States Army spokesman explained that General Mac Arthur originally was in command of the United States land and air forces in the Far East. The only alteration had been the transfer of his headquarters from the Philippines to Australia, together with the assumption of the command of all United States forces in Australia.