AID FOR AUSTRALIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 274, 19 November 1943, Page 5

AID FOR AUSTRALIA

EXAGGERATED U.S. IDEAS CORRECTED ALLOCATIONS ONLY FOR “HOLDING WAR’’ 1 (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 7 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 18. The statement by General JVJacArthur’s spokesman that the Southwest Pacific has something less than 5 per cent, of the United States’ military resources is aimed chiefly at correcting exaggerated ideas on the American homo front of the volume of war equipment supplied to this area/ False estimates, it is felt, must ciscount what has been achieved with the resources actually supplied and create an impression that much more could have been done. It is not denied that South-west Pacific strength has been substantially built up in recent months, but the comments by General MacArthur’s spokesman are interpreted as challenging the statement of Rear-: Admiral Young that American supplies are reaching this area in quanti- ; ties sufficient for large-scale opera- ] tions against the Japanese. The allocations, it is stated, have never exceeded the requirements of a 'holding war, of which the current threat to the Japanese base at Rabaul is regarded as part. However, the figures mentioned by the official spokesman do not include any of the South Pacific air, land or sea strength, from which substantial task forces have been drawn for co-ordination of the New Guinea and Solomons campaign under General MacArthur’s command. These forces were assigned General MacArthur under the tactical command of the Allied Commander in the South Pacific, Admiral Halsey. It is understood that air allocations and replacement schedules for the various war theatres will shortly be reviewed in the light of campaign and strategical needs.

“The South-west Pacific has something less than five per cent, of the United States military resources and is now receiving something less than 10 per cent, of what the United States is shipping overseas. This is more than formerly.”. A spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters on Wednesday made this reply when asked to comment on a recent statement by Rear-Admiral W. H, Young, of the United States Navy, that American supplies were now reaching the South-west Pacific in quantities sufficient for large-scale operations against the Japanese. Saying he was reluctant to discuss the subject, the spokesman added that the percentage for air resources was somewhat lower than those stated above. Without complaint the area was doing everything it could with what it had.