PACIFIC STRATEGY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1942, Page 3

PACIFIC STRATEGY

GENERAL MACARTHUR’S COMMAND IMPORTANT STEP IN ALLIED UNITY. NEW ZEALAND PREMIER'S COMMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “New Zealand has consistently urged a unified supreme command in the Pacific war area, and the announcement of the appointment of General MacArthur indicates an acceptance of the principle either in whole or in part,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in an interview last night. He added that further detailed information was expected immediately. Mr Fraser expressed pleasure at learning that General MacArthur and some members of his staff had arrived in Australia to take up his important command. He said it would be welcomed by all who , had admired so much the gallant and courageous stand of the General and his army in the Philippines. “General MacArthur’s reputation as a soldier is of the highest,” said Mr Fraser. “His achievements in the Philippines have not been surpassed anywhere. He is a brave, dashing, resourceful and efficient soldier. “His appointment will greatly hearten the people of Australia and New Zealand. It will be to them an indication that the American offensive campaign in the Anzac area is now getting fully under way, and that support is materialising in an effective fashion.”

CEYLON COMMAND APPOINTMENT OF SIR HENRY POWNALL. LONDON, March 18. Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall, who was General Wavell’s Chief of Staff while the latter held the supreme command in the South-Western Pacific, has assumed the command of our armies in Ceylon.

SUDDEN ENEMY RAID REPULSED IN PHILIPPINES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 17. The United States War Department announced that General Wainwright, deputy Commander-in-Chief in the Philippines, has repulsed a sudden enemy raid on the American lines on Batan Peninsula. Port Subig, in the Philippines was again shelled by Japanese warships today.