CONFUSION DENIED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 7

CONFUSION DENIED

Two Southern Pacific Commands BORDERLINE BATTLE WASHINGTON, October 22. “In the 'Solomons battle ViceAdmiral Ghormley and General Douglas MacArthur are working, in the closest possible co-operation along the territorial borderline where their two commands join,” the Secretary 'of War, Mr. (Stimson,-told a Press conference when replying to the suggestion that confusion existed between the divided commands. He added that the responsibilities of the two commands in the Pacific were well fixed and thoroughly understood. .> ■ . ‘The bulk of the Pacific area is under Admiral Nimitz, C|ommander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, including the ar,my installations and troops in the Aleutians, Hawaii, Fiji, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, and >’ew Zealand,” he said. “The southern part of this command is under the direct orders of Admiral Ghormley. “Excluded (from Admiral Nimitz’s command are the west coast of the United (States and the Alaskan mainland, both of which are under Lieutenant-General Dewitt, with Major-General Buckner in immediate control of Alaska. “Also separate is General MacArthur’s Command, comprising all the United Nations’ forces in Australia, New Guinea, and the islands northward of Australia. “In the Solomons battle General MacArthur is giving extremely valuable support to the naval, air and ground forces under Admiral Ghorinley. General MacArthur’s bombers have been pounding the Japanese." AUSTRALIAN TROOPS Ready If Required (Received October 23, 11.49 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 23. The Australian Government had not 'been asked to send troops to the Solomon Islands, stated the Minister of the Army, Mr. Forde. If Australian troops were required there were [more A.I.F. men available now than at any previous time since the beginning of the war.