PACIFIC COMMANDERS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXV, Issue 254, 28 October 1942, Page 5

PACIFIC COMMANDERS

"DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS" SOON POSITION EOLDLY EXPLAINED.

P.A. Cable.

NEW YORK, Oct. 27.

Until last week-end American policy in the entire Pacific area was dominated by the "Beat Hitler First" attitude, and an endeavour to maintain a. defensive position on the AustraliaNew Zealand front, but ViceAdmiral Halsey's appointment to the South Pacific Command suggests a new turn to high policy, putting greater emphasis on aggressive operations in the South-west Pacific, says the Christian Science Monitor's Washington correspondent. He adds that the situation "down under" has been shaping up to a change of policy and a change of personnel. It was unfortunate that much criticism of operations in that area preceded Vice-Admiral Ghormley's removal. He did what he was supposed to do. He kept aloof from General MacArthur and opened a campaign with a limited objective, the Solomons, but limited objectives in the Pacific obviously give Japan what she wants most — ample opportunity to consolidate her territorial gains. The rigid demarcation line between General MacArthur's and Admiral Ghormley's commands was an embarrassment to everyone. Dissatisfaction with , the progress in the Solomons has become so great that Washington opinion has veered somewhat away from its strong antiMacArthur bias. Political Washington was largely responsible for the establishment of two separate commands in the Pacific, partly because of jealousy over General MacArthur's popularity and partly because the Conservative opposition launched a "MacArthur for President" campaign. Now the means taken to cut down General MacArthur have baekfired.

NAVAL INDEPENDENCE. The Navy, which insisted on independence from General MacArthur, has subjected itself to heavy criticism, while General MacArthur sat quietlyon the sidelines doing what was possible to lend the Solomons air support but unable to lend other support because he was never given the necessary shipping. It is even asked in Washington whether it was not a mistake to move to the Solomons instead of first cleaning up New Guinea. The importanoe of the issue serves to highlight the lack of unified command in the Pacific. General MacArthur came to Australia with the promise that he would be the supreme commander of the entire Australia-New Zealand area, but it was finally whittled down to Australia. The separate naval command in New Zealand was established over the protest of the New Zealand Government, which always planned its defence in close harmony with Australia. Admiral Halsey may have among his instructions to opeii negotiations towards the eventual establishment of formal "diplomatic relations" with General MacArthur.