UNIFIED COMMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 January 1942, Page 3

UNIFIED COMMAND

SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC SIR A. WAVELL IN SUPREME CONTROL. STRATEGY OF CONCENTRATION ON ESSENTIALS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 4. The White House announced today the unification of all the antiAxis sea, land and air forces in the south-western Pacific area under a single supreme commander. Allied appointments which are announced in Washington, London and Chungking, are:— Supreme command of the Allied land, sea and air forces, south-western Pacific: General Sir Archibald Wavell '(formerly head of the British Middle East Command and later Indian mand).Named as deputy to General Wavell: Major-General George S. Brett (hitherto chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps). Chief of Staff to General Wavell: Acting General Sir Henry Pownall (recently appointed British Comman-der-in-Chief, Far East). Commander-in-Chief of the Allied naval units in. the south-western Pacific: Admiral 'Thomas Hart (hitherto Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet). Command of Allied land and air forces in China, and those which may be engaged in Indo-China and Thailand: General Chiang Kai-shek, Generalissimo of China. The White House announcement said that the system of a unified command has been established in the south-western Pacific as a result of proposals which were put forward by the United States and British chiefs of staff and of their recommendations to Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt. General Wavell's appointment as supreme commander of the sea, land and air forces was at Mr Roosevelt’s suggestion, with which all agreed. The “New York Times,” in an editorial, says: “General Wavell has amply demonstrated his ability and qualities of leadership. His appointment proves that the anti-Axis Powers realise the imperative necessity to conduct the anti-Japanese war under a unified command and with a central strategy, and also understand that the far-flung fronts in the south-west Pacific are merely parts of the single battle.

“It is necessary to ascertain from the higher viewpoint which outposts must be defended regardless of cost and which other can be abandoned temporarily for the sake of concentrating our power. We must subordinate small considerations of national pride to the larger considerations of

final victory, thereby ultimately shifting the unified tactics from defence to attack. “General Wavell’s appointment reassuringly demonstrates that the Allies have recognised these points.” ' The “New York Times’” Washington correspondent describes General Wavell’s new task as to: “Defend Singapore, the Netherlands East Indies, Australia and New Zealand, and prepare the eventual assault against the Axis in the Far East.” IN CLOSE TOUCH NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT CONSULTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Pleasure at the appointment of General Wavell as Allied Commander-in-Chief, South-Western Pacific, was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in an interview last night. He said he was satisfied that General Wavell carried the confidence of the British Commonwealth. “The New Zealand Government was consulted right through in regard to the appointment of General Wavell, and was in the closest touch with the British War Cabinet and with Mr Churchill in Washington,” said M? Fraser. He added that.in his opinion the appointment was /very good one and that it would give great satisfaction. Equal satisfaction was expressed by Mr Fraser at the appointment of General Sir Henry Pownall as Chief of Staff to General Wavell. He was very pleased with both appointments. Admiral T. Hart also came to his new post with a high reputation.