“HIGHEST ORDER”

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21688, 26 March 1942, Page 5

“HIGHEST ORDER”

MACARTHUR’S AUTHORITY ANZAC AREA OPERATIONS AUSTRALIA’S FUNCTION (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tei. copvrigtit) CANBERRA, March 25 The Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, revealed in the House of Representatives today that General MacArthur was to be given authority within Australia of “the highest order/’ He said: “A unified command in the person of one who enjoys such authority, both here and in America, is a vital condition for the defence of Australia and for the gradual organisation of offensive action against Japan. “ This offensive action we are undertaking with the powerful aid of the United States’ armed forces.” Mr Curtin for the first time revealed officially that the Allies visualise Australia’s function in the war as an offensive base in the process of driving Japan from the SouthWest Pacific. “That is, in fact, our goal,” he said, “but let us not exaggerate the speed with which we can reach it. “We must ensure that Australia is held, and to that end accumulate all resources open to us. The calamitous trend of events since the invasion of Malaya has reinforced the view that the Anzac area is an area vital to the world war.” Mr Curtin announced that the conduct of operations in the Anzac area would be vested in the supreme commander. There would be local commanders of the Australian forces for the Navy and Army. General Brett would be the local commander of the Air Force. Great Production Effort The Prime Minister said reports from America imposed a high obligation on Australia to spare nothing in her own effort. Other reports left little doubt regarding the immense production effort which Germany had undertaken in anticipation of making her offensive decisive by the end of 1942. Australia also welcomed the opportunity for increasing her contact with China, whose disappointment had been rather marked since the failure of the Malayan campaign. Australia and India must be held, because they constituted the two bases on which the whole Allied position in Asia and the Pacific depended, and from which the offensive would flow to ultimate victory. Mr Curtin emphasised the need for the creation of a Pacific War Council in Washington. He added that there could be no dispute that developments of the past month had far outrun the arrangements concluded last February for the division of control in the Pacific area between London and Washington. Active Partner in War Australia, said Mr Curtin, had become a much more active partner in the operational direction of the war. Since Japan entered the war the Commonwealth had concentrated its efforts firstly, in securing the rapid disposition of men and supplies in the maximum possible strength at points where they could be used most effectively, and, secondly, in securing speed and efficiency in the higher Allied direction of the war, in which respect General MacArthur could count to the limit on the cooperation of the Government and people. Intimate discussion had been held with General MacArthur since his arrival, to define without delay the new arrangements in the Commonwealth which his appointment entailed. Dr. Evatt, in Washington, was pursuing further plans which the Government had in mind for the better adaptation of the machinery of the Allied war direction to the present needs of Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific area. When the council was established in Washington, major policy questions would be referred back to the War Cabinet by the Australian representative either in London or Washington. Mr Curtin explained that the Australian 'service advisory machinery would be the Chiefs of Staff Committee in Australia, as general advisers to the War Cabinet except where, on the higher strategical questions, the supreme or local commanders might be consulted. Service representatives in London and Washington would maintain liaison with the United Kingdom chiefs of staff and the United States chiefs of staff. Dash to Safety General MacArthur and his staff jettisoned their arms and equipment at an island rendezvous in their dash to Australia from Buouac Peninsula, says the Daily Telegraph’s Melbourne correspondent. They waited three days for three Flying Fortresses from Australia and then only two came. In order to cram the 21 members of the General’s party into two planes all the baggage and equipment had to be left. During three days and three nights the party was on the island. Enemy planes were only half-an-hovir’s flying away, but failed to detect the party’s presence. ARMS FOR ARGENTINA NO SUPPLIES FROM AMERICA SHIPMENTS FROM GERMANY (Unlxed Press Assn.—Elec. Tei. Copy rleh i) BUENOS AIRES, March 24 A high Government official revealed that the chiefs of the Argentine military purchasing commission in Washington are returning home because the necessities of war prevent the United States from delivering needed material to Argentina. The commission had hoped to obtain ships, arms and other war materials. The informant emphasised that the North American position was not based on priorities favouring certain countries over others, but strictly on the ground that materials were lacking to send to non-belliger-ent nations. The only war materials which have arrived in Argentina since the nation began strengthening its defences came from Germany, some of which arrived recently aboard a Spanish ship. More German material is expected to reach Argentina soon via Spain.