NAVAL COMMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1942, Page 4

NAVAL COMMAND

CHANGE IN EAST-INDIES WELCOMED HOPES OF EARLY ACTION. AND SAVING JAVA FROM ENEMY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) BATAVIA, February 12. Vice-Admiral C. E. L. Helfrich’s appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Unified Command has delighted the Dutch and met with the approval of British naval circles. Admiral' Hart’s inactivity irked the Dutch body of opinion in Batavia which believes that only strong Allied naval action can save Java and that there is not time to wait for aerial reinforcements, which are only trickling in. They see hope for early action in the appointment of an aggressive naval commander, who will save the Indies if they can be saved, by sea. Vice-Admiral Helfrich certainly will not allow his country to be sacrificed for any long range strategical plan. His success so far with the small Dutch force is most impressive, especially as he has lost very few ships. EFFECT OF CHANGE VIEWS ABOUT JAPANESE DISPOSITIONS. MOVE OF WARSHIPS TO INDIAN OCEAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 12.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 12. The “New York Times’’ Washington correspondent says the shift in the command for the first time gives the Netherland East Indies major positions in the A.B.D.A. Command. The United States hereafter will have only one member on the joint command, Ma-jor-General Brett. Admiral Hart relinquished the command for alleged reasons of ill-health but it is stated authoritatively that he will not retire, although he is 64. The correspondent says diplomats of the united nations conversant with the Far Eastern situation conveyed to President Roosevelt their belief that Japan was preparing to move a heavy part of her fleet into the Indian Ocean in the hope .that the Germans will drive eastwards from Bulgaria, thus effecting a junction. The Japanese are fully aware that their eventual victory or defeat depends on Nazi victory in Europe.