IN AUCKLAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 6

IN AUCKLAND

ADMIRAL GHORMLEY

INFORMAL ARRIVAL

Nothing could have been more informal than the arrival in Auckland of Vice-Admiral Robert L. Ghormlev, of the United States Navy, who has taken over the command of the Allied Forces in the South Pacific. It was known in official circles for several days that the admiral was expected, but how he was coming and when was a closelyguarded secret. The fact that he had actually arrived in the harbour came as a complete surprise to a number of Royal Navy officers and officers of the United States Navy who comprised the admiral's advance guard.

When a "flash" signalled that the admiral was arriving there was a rush to the waterfront by highranking officers and a corps of foreign war correspondents and photographers. After formal welcomes the admiral motored to his temporary headquarters.

Vice-Admiral Ghormlcy was met by Wing-Commander J. Seabrook, A.D.C., A.F.C., representing the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newail, and by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, a member of the War Cabinet, on behalf of the Prime Minister, and of the Government. He was also met by Commodore Sir Atwell H. Lake, Bart., Chief of the Naval Staff, Commodore E. Rotherham, R.N., naval officer in charge at Auckland, Captain J. P. Olding, U.S.N., United States naval observer in New Zealand, and by senior United States naval officers and ythcr New Zealand service representatives, including Major-Gcneral P. H. Bell. D.S.Q., Northern District Commandant.

For the photograph of Vice-Admiral Ghormlcy, published to-day, we are indebted to the representative of I lie Australian Department of Information, who was given facilities which were denied to the photographers of Auckland newspapers.