BRILLIANT OFFICER

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

BRILLIANT OFFICER

AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTE MAGNIFICENT GESTURE BY AMERICA (Recd. 11.30.) Canberra, March 18. Announcing the appointment ot General MacArthur as Supreme Commander in the Artfac Area, Mr. J. Curtin said the Australian Government had made a special request for this brilliant officer. Mr. Curtin also announced that, on the recommendation Of the Australian Government, President Roosevelt had approved the appointment of Lieut.-General George Brett as deputy to General MacArthur. The latter is now at the United States headquarters in Australia. Mr. Curtin said that in asking that General MacArthur be made supreme commander the Australian Government had cabled Mr. Roosevelt as follows: “His heroic defence of the Philippine Islands has evoked the admiration of the World and has been an example of the stubborn resistance with which the advance of the enemy should be opposed. The Australian Government feels that his leadership of the Allied forces in this theatre will be an inspiration to the Australian people and all forces privileged to serve under his command.” The Commonwealth Government expects fighting on an extensive scale to take place on Australian soil. The Army Minister. Mr. F. M. Forde, said that was the considered opinion of the Government, which had pledged its world that in no circumstances would the nation yield to the Japanese. General MacArthur could he ulded. rely on the utmost loyalty of the Australian people. The Commonwealth would do everything possible to strengthen him in the tremendous responsibility he had undertaken. The Navy Minister. Mr. N. J. O. Makin, described General MacArthur’s appointment as a magnificent gesture by the American Government, quite apart from the great help the United States was giving in other respects.