New Zealand And U.S. Friendship

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 15 May 1961, Page 12

New Zealand And U.S. Friendship

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 14.

The celebrations commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea were an opportunity to re-establish the ties of friendship between the United States and New Zealand and Australia, said General Herbert B. Powell, commanding general of the United States Continental Army Command, today. He arrived by air in his personal aircraft from Melbourne. "Our ties go deeper than our various military alliances.” said General Powell. “They are based on a mutual friendship which developed during the war and which have been maintained for many years between the English-speaking people of the world. “There is a mutual determination against aggression between our people which must be maintained.” As commander of six United States Continental Armies. General Powell heads the largest field command in the United States Army and directs the largest military training establishment in the Western democracies. He has more than 300.000 serving troops in his command and 700,000 on reserve. Two million “stand-by” reservists and 240,000 college cadets also come within his command.

General Powell and his wife and accompanying staff officers will call on the Mayor (Mr D. M. Robinson) tomorrow morning before laying a wreath at the cenotaph. A naval guard of honour Will be mounted there.

He will be the guest at luncheon at the Officers’ Club and will be tendered a civic reception in the Town Hall at 3.15 p.m. In the evening, General Powell and Mrs Powell will be guests of honour at a dinner given by the English-speaking Union. General Powell will fly to Wellington on Tuesday to pay calls on the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) and service chiefs. He will leave from Rongotai on his return to America on Tuesday night.