SINGLE COMMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1942, Page 3

SINGLE COMMAND

NEEDED IN THE PACIFIC MR NASH’S PROPOSAL COMMENDED. COMMENT IN WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, February 2. The “Washington Post,” in a leading article, says that the New Zealand Minister to Washington, Mr Nash, showed a sound conception of the Allied grand strategy in the Pacific when he recommended the appointment of a supreme commander for the entire Pacific area. “This is essential,” it states. “The surprise raid by the Japanese on Hawaii and their opening successes on the fronts in the South Pacific have taught the United States to concentrate her power wherever there is an enemy to fight; but, as Mr Nash points out, General Wavell’s command does not include such areas as Australia and New Zealand, both of which are subject to Japanese attack. “Moreover, it must be assumed that the Japanese war plans call for the opening of additional Pacific fronts, particularly in Russia./ A wise course would be to provide for such contingencies by appointing a commander-in-chief of the Pacific strategy, preferably a navy man, since we must command the reaches of the Pacific before we can win.” GUERILLA WARFARE LARGE-SCALE PREPARATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. TASK FOR VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, February 3. Australia is preparing for guerilla warfare on a large scale, the Minister of the Army, Mr Forde, disclosed today. The -plans for this, he said, were now in ,the hands of the army authorities. The main role would be adopted by the Volunteer Defence Corps, which was being extended to all parts of the country. Guerillas and commandos would operate independently of the main party and the militia forces. The production of munitions and arms had reached a stage where more liberal supplies could be allotted to the volunteer defence corps. Mr Forde added that a special force of civilians had been organised by the police to report on parachute landings and attempted invasions.