PROBLEMS & TACTICS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 248, 21 October 1942, Page 5

PROBLEMS & TACTICS

REINFORCEMENT OF SOLOMONS TWO POINTS OF VIEW STATED.

P.A. Gable.

NEW YORK, Oct. 20.

Mr David Lawrence, writing in the New York Sun, says: "In its effort to make the Marines' position in the Solomons secure the United States Navy is up against one of the toughest tasks in its history, but the difficulties involved have been foreseen frorn the very beginning. One thing that is eausing Navy men concern is the public's apparent i'nability to understand the real nature of the job and the reasons for the manner in which the news of it is handled from the Pacific area. Thus criticism that Army forces in Australia under General MacArthur are not being utilised to help the Marines is a misunderstanding of the nature of the operations. "The assumption that Army forces in Australia or anywhere else are not permitted to do something they ought to do, is to say that General Marshall has not the opportunity to express himself or influence the strategy that is finally adopted. This, of course, is unfounded, because it is well known that there has been substantial agreement right along between members of the High Command.

"Deception as to losses is practiced by all the navies of the world as an integral part of strategy. Policies differ with the situations arising. One thing can be stated positively. The High Corpmand of the Army and the Navy is not holding back news because of any relationship to the problem of morale on the home front. The reasons are strategic, and the American people must trust the High Command which knows What it is doing and is interested only in victory, not politics or morale problems away from the fighting fronts. "There is unity of command and purpose to-day among United States Chiefs of Staff," the writer concludes. CRITICAL ARTICLE. This article followed the publication of a statement that "the reason why military reinforcements were not sent to the Solomon Islands long ago puzzles military strategists." This was written by Mr Drew Pearson, the Washington Merry-Go-Round columnist, when pointing out that General MacArthur has had sufficient troops in Australia that could be spared for the Solomons. "Unfortunately, there is no unity of command between the Army and Navy in the South Pacific," Mr Pearson said. "General MacArthur runs his own show in Australia, and there is apparently reluctance in the War Department or the White House to give General MacArthur orders. "Recently the United States naval commander in New Zealand flew to Australia and had a profitable visit to General MacArthur, and it is hoped that that friendly visit. will have real results."