FAITH IN OUTCOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 January 1942, Page 4

FAITH IN OUTCOME

OF CONTEST WITH JAPAN DECLARED BY GENERAL . WAVELL. A HEARTENING OVERTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon.) NEW DELHI, January 4. “The situation may become worse until the tide turns, but when the time comes it will turn with inexorable strength,” declared General Sir A. ( Wavell, at ?. farewell Press conference. He emphasised that it was impossible to reverse the present position at one blow. “We must hold on until we. can collect our forces for a return blow.” he said. “The combined Allied forces cannot fail in the long run to throw out the Japanese freebooters from the places they have temporarily seized.” General Wavell paid a tribute to American resistance in the Philippines against huge odds and also to the gallant efforts made elsewhere by British, Australian and Indian troops, the British, Australian and Dutch air forces and the British and Dutch fleets. “This,” he observed, “is a heartening overture to eventual co-ordination for the defeat of Japan.” AMERICAN COMMENT WAVELL THE LOGICAL CHOICE. UNIFICATION ELSEWHERE TO FOLLOW. (Received This Day, Noon.) NEW YORK, January 4. The “Herald-Ttibunei” understands that the unification of the Pacific Command is only the first of several similar steps to be announced shortly, creating unified commands in other wai’ theatres, particularly in the Atlantic. The “Herald-Tribune,” in a leader, says General Wavell’s appointment is of the happiest omen for the future and adds that the perilous situation of the American army in the Philippines and the consequent preoccupation of Gen- ' eral MacArthur there have tangibly : demonstrated that a single head is nec- i essary to co-ordinate and direct the work. General Wavell was the logi- 1 cal, indeed the only choice, for the 1 post. i