CLOSEST CO-OPERATION

Evening Star, Issue 24333, 23 October 1942, Page 3

CLOSEST CO-OPERATION

NIMITZ AND MAGARTHUR Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. 12.35 p.m.l WASHINGTON, October 22. “In the Solomons battle Admiral Ghormley and General Mao Arthur are working in the closest possible co-opera-tion along the territorial border line where their two commands join,” Mr Stimson told a Press conference, replying to a suggestion that confusion existed between the divided commands. Ho added that the responsibilities of the two commands in the Pacific wore well fixed and thoroughly understood. “ The bulk of the Pacific area is under Admiral Nimitz, Commandor-in-Chief of the Pacific fleet, including army installations, and troops in the Aleutians, Hawaii. Fiji, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. The southern part of this command is under the direct orders of Admiral Ghormley. Excluded from the Nimitz command are the west coast of the United States and the Alaskan mainland. Both are under Lieutenant-general Dewitt, with Majorgeneral 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 Ghormley. MacArthnr’s bombers have been pounding the Japanese.”

AMERICAN DESTROYERS LOSS OF TWO ANNOUHCED WASHINGTON, October 21. A Navy Department communique says: “ The destroyers Meredith and O’Brien have been lost within the last few days as the result of enemy action in the Solomons area. A report on the casualties has not been received, but it is* believed that all the personnel of the O’Brien and many of the personnel of the Meredith were rescued.” The Washington correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ says that observers noted the quick announcement of the loss of the destroyers as indicating the inauguration of a new navy policy in such matters. Previously the news of sinkings has been withheld as long as three months.