AMERICAN NAVAL COMMANDER

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22473, 7 January 1943, Page 2

AMERICAN NAVAL COMMANDER

Visit Of Admiral Halsey

Bright Personality

Described

(N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND. Jan. 6 The Commander-in-Chief of the South Pacific, Admiral William F. Halsey recently paid a short visit to New Zealand. Admiral Halsey, whose name resounded throughout the world when he commanded the United States Forces which sweepingly defeated a

superior Japanese invasion fleet off Guadalcanal early in November, said smilingly that his visit to New Zealand was to enable him to relax from his hard labours up north. He spent mast of his time in the Dominion on official business, making a tour of inspection of the United States establishments, holding conferences with senior American officers and discussing various matters with the Government. On his arrival Admiral Halsey wis met by Mr R. E, Cox. Charge d’Affaires at the American Legation, and by Captain Jupp, senior United States Naval Officer in New Zealand. He was then introduced to Air Commodore Buckley A.D.C. representing the Governor-General Sir Cyril Newall. to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, the Minister of the Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and to many senior New Zealand and United States service officers and members oi parliament and local bodies. Admiral Halsey wore a khaki uniform with the overseas fore and aft cap. On his arrival at the United States officers’ mess where he stayed during his Auckland visit, he had a shave and a wash, changed into a blue uniform, and attended a reception arranged in his honour by United States Naval Forces. There he met and chatted happily with officers and nurses of the United States Forces and with a large number of prominent New Zealanders from parliament, local bodies, the Services, judiciary and society. He then held a newspaper conference and left to have his firs: New Zealand dinner for 34 years.

Capacity For Friendship Admiral Halsey showed he had the capacity for making good friends quickly. He is most approachable and his determined, even grim, sailor’s mouth and chin are relieved by wide good humoured smiles. His eyes are keen and searching, set widely under jutting brows and his grey hair is brushed right back and neatly parted. His hands are strong and capable. His 60 years seem to sit lightly on him. He showed no trace of fatigue, and his back is as straight as a ramrod. Of no more than average height, he is neat, even immaculate in his appearance, although his liking for old clothes was indicated by the presence of a well-worn aviator’s windbreaker leather jacket and carpet slippers in his luggage. He is reputed to wear both these on the bridge of his flagship. The overseas cap, instead oi the heavily gold-braided one, which he might have worn, together with an inconspicuous khaki uniform, was also typical of the man. It is said of him that he imposes a strict but commonsense discipline aboard his ship. The traditional “spit and polish’’ rank after faultless marksmanship and skiful manouevring. He does not appear to have lost the common touch, to have set himself aloof above his subordinates. At the reception his handshanke and welcome to ensigns and junior lieutenants w’ere as firm and as sincere as they were for high-ranking officers.

Admiral Halsey is known as the most airminded admiral in the United States Service. He learned to pilot a plane at the age of 52, and believes victory will be won in the Pacific by the combined efforts of warships and war planes. He w’ears a Navy pilot’s insignia on the left breast of his tunic He has showed himself in action to believe in the aggressive, fast and unorthodox. He is very clearly a fighting man, but during his press conference and at the reception his humanity was also just as apparent. Admiral Halsey recalled when he last visited New Zealand in 1908 as a junior officer in Admiral Sperry’s “great white fleet.” “I have not visited New Zealand for 34 years,” he said, “and I am very glad to be back. I remember what a wonderful country you have and how kind the people were. From what I have seen of both in the last few hours I know neither has changed.”