COMMANDER ASHORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24877, 26 April 1944, Page 5

COMMANDER ASHORE

VISIT BY MacARTHUR DAY OF COMPLETE TRIUMPH (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 8.80 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 25 The Commander-in-Chief in the South-west Pacific, General Mac Arthur. went ashore with the American troops to watch the final stages of the New Guinea landings. He landed at Humbold Bay while shells from warships were falling on Japanese positions hid den in the jungle. Having assured himself that de velopments at Humbold Bay were proceeding to plan, he went ashore at Tanahmerah Bay, in spite of a signal that Japanese aircraft were approaching. However, no enemy planes ap peared. At these two beachheads, Genera! Mac Arthur, unprotected by even a steel helmet, walked several miles inspecting the vast quantities of food and equipment abandoned by the Japanese. His appearance electrified the troops, who did not suspect that he was within many miles. It was a day of complete triumph for the commander. Food left on plates in officers' quarters at Hollandia proved that the Japanese were taken completely by surprise. The stores which they abandone included scores of uncrated aeroplane motors and large piles of ammunition. General Mac Arthur said to unit commanders: '"This is one of the bestexecuted operations I have ever seen. You have the enemy trapped. Do not let him go."