DEFENCE MEASURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26703, 24 February 1948, Page 6

DEFENCE MEASURES

FAR EAST COMMANDERS FIRST INTERCHANGE OF VISITS CO-ORDINATION OF PLANS The Commanders-in-Chief, Far East, will arrive at Auckland by air to-day-on a brief visit to New Zealand to discuss defence questions. They will proceed to Wellington for discussions with the Chiefs of Staff and the Government. A statement to this effect was made to the Daily Times by the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones, yesterday. The Minister added that this was the first visit to New Zealand of the Com-manders-in-Chief. It would be a return visit for that which was made to their headquarters at Singapore last year by Major-general N. W. McD. Weir, Chief of the General Staff, and Air Vice-marshal A. de T. Nevill, Chiet of the Air Staff, on their return from London, where they had been engaged in conference with Field-marshal Lord Montgomery of Alamein. “This is the first of what I expect will be a regular exchange of visits between New Zealand Chiefs of Staff and the Commanders-in-Chief, Far East,” Mr Jones said. “It will provide an opportunity for discussion on defence matters concerning South-east Asia and the South-west Pacific. It will be a means of securing co-ordina-tion in the plans that are being developed by the service authorities in various parts of the Commonwealth to ensure the security of this part of the world in which we' live and to enable us to make, if required, our contribution to the plans and policy of the United Nations.”

The Commanders-in-Chief. will take the opportunity while they are in New Zealand to inspect service establishments in the North Island. They hope also, if time permits them, to see some of the service stations in the South Island.

The Air Officer Commanding' Far East is Air Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd, and the navy is represented by Rearadmiral Caslon, flag officer, Malaya. Unfortunately, General Sir Hugh Ritchie, Commander Land Forces, Far East, is not able to come to New Zealand at this time, owing to a temporary indisposition. He will be represented by Major-general Redman.