WELL DEFINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1942, Page 4

WELL DEFINED

GENERAL MACARTHUR’S

POWERS \ MR STIMSON ON “TEMPEST IN TEAPOT.” PROSPECTS OF OFFENSIVE ACTION. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) ‘ (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 17. In speaking of General MacArthur’s command, the Secretary for War (Mr Harry Stimson) said he was frankly surprised at the statements credited to General MacArthulr’iS spokesman in Australia that General MacArthur’s authority had not been fully defined. Mr Stimson termed the flurry resulting from those statements “a tempest in a teapot.” From the very beginning, when President Roosevelt authorised General MacArthur’s transfer from the Philippines to Australia, there had never been a moment’s question about the overall strategic command of that area. Mr Slimson added that the Australians and the Dutch had been warmly co-operative from the beginning, but there had been details to work out. Mr Stimson said General MacArthur had the same type of command as was exercised previously by General Wavell in the South-West Pacific and had. the same general powers in the area as were granted in another area in 1913 to Marshal Foch. Mr Stimson also briefly reviewed American military progress since the Pearl Harbour attack on December 7. He said things were beginning to move in the right direction “I -am more thary. ever convinced,” he said, “that we are going to get on the offensive and to do so at the earliest practicable moment.” He stressed, however, that preparations ' for the offensive 4n a global conflict was a long and difficult process. “Before leading this nation into a long, sustained offensive,” he said, “we must be as sure as possible that certain key points in . our armour are as safe as possible.” UNIFIED COMMAND APPROVED BY QUEN OF NETHERLANDS. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, April 17. Queen Wilhelmina has accepted General MacArthur as the Allied Nations’ Commander-in-Chief in the SouthWest Pacific.