IN SUPREME COMMAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 66, 19 March 1942, Page 5

IN SUPREME COMMAND

General MacArthur In Australia WIDE APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) London, March 1 7. To-day’s big news is that General MacArthur has arrived by air in Australia, and he will be in supreme command of this region, including the Philippines, in accordance with a request from the Australian Government. A Washington message states that General MacArthur is accompanied by Mrs. MacArthur and his son; his Chief of Staff, Major-General Richard K. Sutherland; Brigadier-General Harold H. George, of the U.S. Army Air Force; and several of his staff officers. The official announcement said that President Rocsevelt had directed General MacArthur to transfer his headquarters from the Philippines to Australia three weeks ago. General MacArthur requested to be allowed to delay his departure until he could perfect his arrangements in the Philippines, and this postponement was authorised by the President. News agency correspondents qoute a War Department spokesman as stressing the fact that General MacArthur's transfer does not mean that Batan Peninsula is considered lost. Major-General J. W. Wainwright will carry on in General MacArthur’s place in command of the forces in the Philippines. He is regarded in Washington as one of the best students of the technique of modern war.

Messages from Washington say that the news of General MacArthur’s new command has thrilled the American public. The tidings Hashed through the capital in a few moments, causing increasing excitement and completely removing the gloom of the past few weeks. The appointment follows the announcement by Mr. H. L. Stimson, the Secretary of War, that American forces were in the Commonwealth, and that they included air and ground troops in considerable number. General MacArthur’s resistance in the Batan Peninsula has caught the imagination of the free world. Since the fall of Manila, more than two months ago. General MacArthur’s small force of American and Filipino troops, with a few planes, has held Batan and Corregidor fortress in Manila Bay against heavy odds. Whole regiments of Japanese troops have been wiped out, and all Japanese attempts to invade the peninsula from the sea have ended in disaster. General MacArthur, who is 62, was the youngest Chief of Staff the United States army ever had. He held the appointment for five years, from 1930 to 1935. In 1935, as military adviser to th? Philippine Government, he began to train the Philippine army, and last July was given command of the United States forces in the Far East. He served in the last war, was in all the big engagements of U.S. troops in France, and was twice wounded in action. He holds 13 decorations for gallantry under fire, and was Chief of Staff of the famous American “Rainbow" Division, the 42nd, in France. Defences Strengthened. A further strengthening of Australia’s defences comes with lb- news that most of the R.A.A.F. u i who have been fighting in Malaya. Sumatra, and Java, are now back in the Commonwealth. They are men who have inflicted heavy losses on Japanese shipping, aircraft, and land forces, and they are going to be drafted into various home squadrons so that the benefit of their active service experience can be spread. Dutch troops reaching Australia from the Netherlands East Indies arc being reorganised under their own commanders to take their place in the field beside the Australians. The Netherlands news agency alsc reports from Washington that the entire Netherlands merchant fleet, estimated to be over 2,000,090 tons, is in the hands of the United Nations. At Canberra a Government spokesman said that a general view of the raids and bombing on Darwin indicated that Australia might expect an attack soon. “You know the Japanese pattern,’’ he said, “bomb, and then land.’’ The War Department at Washington has announced Ujpt General Wainwright, deputy Commander-in-Chief in the Philippines, has repulsea a sudden enemy raid on the American lines on Batan Peninsula. Port Subig. in the Philippines, was again shelleci by Japanese warships to-day. The U.S. Navy Denartment announces that Rear-Admiral Adolphus Andrews has been given what are called "exclusive duties’’ as commander of the Eastern Sea Frontier. WELCOMED BY PRESS IN BRITAIN (Recd. 8.50 p.m.> London, .March 17. The British press welcomes General MacArthur’s appointment and agrees that it is good news for all the United Nations, but especially for the Dominions in the Southern Hemis- • phere. ‘ MOST GRATIFYING” MR. FRASER’S SATISFACTION (P.A.) Wellington, March 18. ‘New Zealand has consistently urged a unified Supreme Command in the Pacific war area, and the announcement of the appointment of General MacArthur indicates acceptance of the principle, either in whole or in part," said the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, in an interview tonight. He added that further detailed information was expected immediately. The news that General MacArthur and some members of his staff hao reached Australia for the purpose oi taking up an important command in the Anzac area was most gratifying and would be welcomed by all who gdmired so much the gallant anti Courageous stand of the General and his arms in the Philippines, said Mr. Fraser this afternoon. ‘General MacArthur’s reputation as a soldier is of the highest,” continued • Mr. Fraser. "His achievements in the • Philippines have not been surpassed anywhere. He is a brave, dashing, resourceful and efficient soldier. His appointment will greatly hearten the people of Australia and New Zealand. It will be to them an indication that the American offensive campaign in the Anzac area is now getting full under way, and that support is materialising in effective fashion.”

GOOD TIDINGS UNITED NATIONS REJOICE IN APPOINTMENT “BEST NEWS OF WAR” Rec. 10.5 p.m. Washington, March 18 "The people of the United Nations will rejoice to hear that General MacArthur has arrived in Australia to ? take up new and wider responsibili--1 ties,” said Lord Hailfax. “It is especi- » ally good tidings for the Britisu Com--1 monwealth of Nations. Under the hero of Batan, American, Dutch, ‘ British and Australian soldiers will ■ fight the Japanese with confidence ■ wherever they meet them.” ’ Mr. Sumner Welles said that Gen- ’ eral MacArthur’s arrival in Australia ' was great news for all Americans and 1 peoples of the United Nations. It 1 was a matter for self-congratulation on the part of every American citi- ’ zen that the hero of the Philippines was in Australia, and at the special 1 request of the Australian Government was taking over command of that ’ gravely-menaced area. Representative Vinson, chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee, ’ said: “It is the best news of the war. We have got to hold Australia and now we will hold it.” Representative Carlson said General MacArthur’s appointment would do more to instil confidence into the ■ American people than any happening • since December 7. TRIBUTE FROM CHINESE (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) Washington, March 18 A Chungking message states that military quarters welcomed General 1 MacArthur's appointment and paid a ■ | tribute to him as one of the ablest s 'fighting generals of the Allied forces. )lA Government spokesman said: “The ■, anoointment is a wise move in the H Allied strategy in the Pacific.” > The newspaper Takung Pao states ■ in an editorial: “We earnestly hope I General MacArthur will defend Aus- : tralia with the same spirit that he dei fended Batan. We must hold Australia as a base from which to launch a future counter-offensive.” WILL BE IN WAR CABINET I ! AUSTRALIAN LEADER ) j _ London. March 17. / Mr. C. Attlee. Secretary for the Dominions, stated in the House of j Commons that when Dr. H. V. Evatt, Australian Minister of External Affairs. visited Britain after his visit to ■ the United States, he would be an accredited representative of the Com- . monwealth Government in the War ' Cabinet. “A WARMEST GREETINGS' CURTIN WELCOMES U.S.A. I FORCES ; (Recd. 11.5 p.m.) Canberra, March 18. ’ In a statement issued to-day the Prime Minister, Mr. J. Curtin, said:— ' “The Australian Government extends the warmest greetings to the American forces. This country entertains a feeling of deep gratitude for the President, and the people of America. We have to show ourselves worthy of their aid. We must strictly apply self-discipline. No individual can tai; . himself. If he does he fails the I nation ” SANK EIGHT VESSELS HONOUR FOR U.S. OFFICER Washington, March LT. The Navy Department announced that Lieut. - Commander Chester Smith has been awarded a gold star, equivalent to a second Navy Cross, on the basis of reports crediting his ■ submarine with sinking eight enemy t vessels. Lieut.-Commander Smith received • the Navy Cross on February 27 for . earlier successes. THURSDAY ISLAND ATTACK NOT IMMINENT Canberra, March 17. The Federal Government described a Tokio report that Japanese forces • were preparing to land on Thursday ' Island as "groundless.” The Federal Government knows nothing of any clash north of Port Moresby between Japanese and Australian troops. 1 AUSTRALIANS BOMB KOEPANG ENEMY RECONNAISSANCE . (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) Canberra, March 18. Continuing the offensive against the Japanese in Australia’s near north. Allied planes swooped down on ! enemy-occupied aerodromes at Koe- : pang yesterday and dropped bombs from 000 feet'on targets in spite of ' poor visibility. Raid alarms were sounded at both Darwin and Port Moresby yesterday, but no attacks developed. A comI ’.n-e dealing wPn th.e>o operations . added tn.?‘ energy air reconnaissance | war; carried out yesterday over Am ba si, Dogura and Samarl.