PACIFIC STRATEGY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 232, 1 October 1943, Page 3

PACIFIC STRATEGY

BRITISH MISSION TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND (P.A.) Wellington, Sept. 30. “The maximum British co-operation with the United States in future operations against the Japanese is now being planned,” stated the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, announcing that a special British military naval and air mission, headed by Major-General J. S. Lethbridge, will arrive shortly in New Zealand, en route to Australia. Mr. Fraser said that Major-General Lethbridge and his staff are engaged in a study of all problems of tactics, weapons, supply, transport, communications and medical services connected with the war against Japan other than future operational planning. The mission has already spent some weeks in the United States. In the South Pacific and the South-west Pacific the members of the mission hope to observe the fighting against Japanese at first, hand as well as obtain the benefit of discussion with Australian, New Zealand and United States officers who have had recent experience in action in the Solomons and New Guinea. The mission will later go to India, where it will similarly benefit from the experience gained on the Burma front. The mission was formed after Mr. Churchill's speech on June 30 at the Guildhall. In this speech he promised:

"When the Germans have been crushed in Europe, every man, every ship, every aeroplane in the King’s service that can be moved to the Pacific will be sent and there maintained in action for as many years as are needed to make the Japanese in their turn submit or bite the dust.”

“In order that the British forces may, when they can be released from the European theatre of war, be quickly,made ready to co-operate to the full with the United States against the Japanese, many problems connected with their re-equipment and reorganisation must first be solved. The work of Major-General Lethbridge and his staff,” said Mr. Fraser, “will ensure that the solution of these problems is reached in the light of the accumulation of experience and knowledge available from those active theatres which they are visiting. The formation and despatch of the mission is the clearest possible indication that the words Mr. Churchill spoke at the Guildhall are at once being followed by positive action to implement in due course the promise he then made. The British Government is taking these measures in full consultation and agreement with the United States, New Zealand, Australia and India.” The mission, said Mr. Fraser. Is composed of officers of all three British fighting services. The senior naval member is Rear-Admiral F. H. W. Gooldan, and the senior air member Air Commodore L. L. Maclean. The United Kingdom Army contingent includes Brigadiers H. Bartlett (Royal Corps of Signals) and McAlevey (R.A.M.C.). Representatives from both the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force are included.

The mission is accompanied by Captain Blick, of the United States Navy, Colonels Robins and Deware, of the United States Army, and Colonel Moore, of the United States Army Air Force. Major-General Lethbridge is 45 and a graduate of the Staff College. He saw service in France, Belgium, Afghanistan and the North-west Frontier from 1914 to 1921 with the Royal Engineers. Since 1936 he has been attached tp the War Office as Director of Liaison and Munitions.