PACIFIC LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24422, 4 November 1942, Page 3

PACIFIC LEADER

SINGLE COMMANDER SPECULATION IN AMERICA NEW YORK, Nov. 2 Vichy radio states that General Mac Arthur has arrived iu Washington to report progress in the Solomons battle. The Daily News columnist, Danton Walker, cites Washington reports that General Mae Arthur's disclaimer of political ambitions has paved his jvav to the position of United Nations' Commander-in-Chief. He will come home to discuss it shortly, says this writer. President Roosevelt will soon appoint a single commander of the United States Army. Navy and Marines in the South Pacific. This commander will probably be General Mac Arthur, according to the Washington columnist, Drew Pearson. In a broadcast he said that the highest War Department authorities deny that General Mac Arthur was prevented from bombing the Solomons. He said that several times in recent weeks General .Mac Arthur had cabled the War Department requesting it to deny that lie had ambitions I'or the Presidency, but the War Department told him he would have to make the statement himself. Advantage to Japan The special correspondent of the Press Association iu Sydney reports that Mr. W. M. Hughes, deputyLeader of the Federal Opposition, declared that the Allies' maximum ell'ort in ibis theatre could only be achieved under unified control. For a genera iion. he said, Japan had concentrated on the building up of what was proving to lie the greatest military power in the world. American and Australian troops were not faring well against her. "At the best we are holding our own, but no more than that," Mr. Hughes said. Japan's soldiers moved under unified control and with complete co-ordina-tion of sea, land and air forces. Tbev were not confined to prescribed areas beyond which they could not operate. To-morrow troops from Rabaul or Kokoda could be moved to Guadalcanal'. There were no artificial lines limiting the authority of the Japanese High Command. Restricted Authority Against such an enemy tin? Allies in the Solomons could muster forces only within the area allotted to an American admiral. Although he might be in danger of being overwhelmed by superior numbers, lie could not call on General MacArtbur's forces since they were outside his area. The fact that the Japanese make no distinction between the battle for the Solomons and the battle for New Guinea, regarding them as part of one campaign, was emphasised bv the Glasgow Herald commenting editorially on the South Pacific situation for the second successive day. The paper says that the fate of Guadalcanar is still in the balance, adding: "The fact that. General MaeArthur's communique announcing the latest raids on Japanese shipping begins with words supporting general operations in the Solomons is likely to increase rather than allay misgivings about the lack of unity in the American command in this area." FLEET WITHDRAWN JAPANESE FORCE PUNISHED NEW YORK, Nov. 2 In a despatch from the headquarters of the Lnited States forces in the South Pacific dated October 28, the Associated Press says a huge Japanese armada limped away front the Solomons licking its wounds in the last two days. Naval forces, dive-bombers and torpedo planes pounded the enemy ships, which were estimated to number between 40 and 50 and which were sent from two directions in an attempt at a knockout blow against Guadalcanar. The Japanese fleet, composed of two heavy task forces from 150 to 200 miles apart, approached Guadalcanar from the north-east. Douglas dive-bombers from Guadalcanar hit cruisers and destroyers off Florida Island. One cruiser was damaged and stopped by a direct bomb hit, after which Flying Fortresses hit and set fire to a light cruiser or heavy destroyer. Farther away American carrier-based torpedo planes and dive-bombers sailed into the Japanese carriers. An American pilot said later that tho flight deck of a big new .Japanese carrier was completely smashed and the vessel appeared to be sinking. AUSTRA LI AN FIGHTERS •LONDON, Nov. 3 It was announced in Melbourne today that last month's production of Australian-built Beaufort fighters broke all records. CHANNEL ENCOUNTERS DAMAGE TO ENEMY SHIPS (Konl. r,p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 2 Many hits were registered on both convoy and escorts when British naval forces early yesterday morning encountered an enemy convoy of three small supply ships, two torpedo boats and an armed trawler off the Sept lies, near the north coast of Britfanv, says the British oflicial wireless. Fog and a heavy enemy smoke-screen prevented full observation, but one enemy supply ship is known to have been set on fire and abandoned in a sinking condition. Our forces suffered neither damage nor casualties. A further Channel action is reported by the Admiralty, which states that late on Sunday night a British and Allied light force operating in the Channel, engaged an enemy convoy, consisting of medium-sized ships and escorted by three escort vessels and one armed trawler. One of the ships in the convoy is believed to have been torpedoed by our motor-torpedo boats and gunfire damaged the remainder of the enemy forces. Our casualties were two ratings wounded. Striking hard at Nazi attempts to throw a fighter scrcui over their F-boats crossing the Bay of Biscay. Beaufighters of the Coastal Command yesterday destroyed two Junkers 88 and damaged others. Two more enemy planes which attacked a Polish squadron of Wellington Horn hers were driven off. POLITICAL WARFARE MIDDLE EAST APPOINTMENT (Peril, f>.M"i p.m.) LONDON, Nov. '2 Mr. P. C. Vellacott, D.5.0., M.A., master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and a former headmaster of Harrow, has been appoint.ed Director of Political Warfare in the Middle Fast, and has left for Cairo. QUERIES FOR ITALIANS NKW YOliK, Nov. 2 Broadcast ing to Italy in his regular Sunday programme, the Mayor of New York, Mr. F. LaGuardia, challenged "that little cur .Mu.ssolini, the Italian radio r. id Stefani news agency, subsidised by Hitler" to answer 10 questions concerning the actual state of affairs in Italy. Among the questions were: "How mueh money have Count Ciano. Foreign Minister of Italy, and company, sent out of Italy for the day when tliey flee from an Italian revolt? Is it not true that Italian soldiers are sent to the front line.s on the Don River while the Germans wait to advance until their allies have been slaughtered? Isn't it true that the pig Hitler has promised the snake Laval the same colonies and territories which he promised ■ Mussolini?" I