CHANGE IN COMMAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25564, 17 June 1944, Page 4

CHANGE IN COMMAND

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA NEW ADMIRAL APPOINTED (Special) AUCKLAND, June 16. According to a broadcast of overseas news, Admiral W. F. Halsey has relinquished his post as Allied Com-mander-in-Chief in the South Pacific and has been given another appointment which has not yet been disclosed. He is to be succeeded by Vice-admiral John H. Newton. Vice-admiral Newton, who won the American Distinguished Service Cross in European waters in the last war, is an officer about whom comparatively little has been heard-over the past few years, but for whom officers who have served with him hold the deepest respect. He is described as being one of the American Navy's most capable organisers, as well as s clever and hard-hitting leader. Exponent of Cruiser Tactics He is an acknowledged American authority on the employment of light naval forces and a leading exponent ol cruiser tactics. For some years no new cruiser took its place on the stocks in American shipbuilding yards until its design and armament had been approved by Admiral Newton. In March, 1941, Admiral Newton, then a rear-admiral, took an American cruiser and destroyer squadron to Australia at the same time as a destroyer squadron was visiting New Zealand. He flew his flag in the cruiser Chicago. Admiral Newton is in his sixty-third year. He was born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1881, and entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1905. He was commissioned an ensign in 1907 and since then has served in both the wars and the several campaigns in which his navy has been employed.

In the last war he was first of all commander of the American Fifth Destroyer Division, based on Queenstown. Ireland, and later he was a destroyer force gunnery officer. After the Armistice he again commanded a destroyer division in the Mediterranean and Adriatic. From 1922 until after Japan attacked the United States in 1941 he spent all his time in cruisers and rose to be commander of cruisers, scouting force. In this command, which he held at the time he visited Australia, he had 18 heavy cruisers under his leadership. Efficient Organiser

in appearance Admiral Newton is short, thick-set and alert, it being said of him that by his every movement and crisp word he conveys an uncanny impression of machine-like efficiency. An officer who has served under him has said: “As an organiser he is a terror for detail. Nothing seems to escape his roving eye, and he is always one step ahead of you no matter how slick and resourceful you may think you are.”. Admiral Newton becomes the third commander of the South Pacific Area since it was established in 1942. The first was Vice-admiral Robert L. Ghormley, who set up his headquarters in Auckland in May, 1942. and later had supreme command of the forces which assaulted Guadalcanar in August of the same year. In October, 1942, Admiral Ghormley was succeeded by Admiral Halsey, who recently visited New Zealand after virtually clearing the whole South Pacific Area of Japanese forces.

It can be expected that the Japanese will hear of Admiral Halsey again. The Secretary of the Navy, Mr James Forrestal, recently refused to discuss Admiral Halsey’s new assignment by saying that “whatever I say could be used constructively by the Japanese.”