MILITARY AREAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1942, Page 3

MILITARY AREAS

DEFINED IN AUSTRALIA PREPARATIONS TO WITHSTAND INVASION. NEW ARMY COMMANDS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CANBERRA, April 1. The organisation of Australia into separate vast military areas based on an assumption that an invasion may be attempted simultaneously in several places has been completed. / , One area will be defended by Lieu-tenant-General Sir John Laverack, who led the A.I.F. in Syria, and the ether will be entrusted to LieutenantGeneral Sir Iven Mackay. It is stated that they will find their troops at battle stations which have been dictated by the events in the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea respectively. The Army Minister, Mr Forde, had a talk with General MacArthur today. The latter congratulated the Government on the Army reorganisation and expressed his approval of the changes made. He said he was greatly impressed by the leading officers of the A.I.F. whom he has met. General MacArthur made suggestions for still further strengthening of the defences, all of which, Mr Forde stated, would be readily adopted. Mr Forde added that all of the senior officers who had returned from overseas had been told to impart to their men a “frontline outlook.” They would insist upon training almost to the limit of the men’s endurance.

PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT CALL ON AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The President of the Philippines, Don Manuel Quezon, yesterday called on the Prime Minister, Mr J. W. Curtin, who assured him of Australia’s active co-operation in the task of restoring the Philippines.

CONSULTATIVE BODY THE PACIFIC WAR COUNCIL. STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) LONDON, April 1. At his Press conference in Washington yesterday, President Roosevelt stressed that the Pacific War Council will have an essentially consultative role. He added that there would be the closest co-operation between the Joint Chiefs of Staff Group, the Pacific War Council in London, and the War Council in Washington. He explained that India was not included in the new council, because it was not in the Pacific, but China was being in that area. Commenting on the formation of the council, “The Times,” London, says: “The Dominion Governments can be sure that their views and interests are taken into full account in the shaping of Allied policy and Allied strategy.” It adds that Dr. Evatt, the Australian member, and Mr Nash, the New Zealand representative, are both men of outstanding ability and force of character.

FREE FRENCH PACIFIC FORCES UNDER ALLIED COMMAND. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, April 1. General de Gaulle has placed the Free French forces in the Pacific under the command of General MacArthur, who, in acknowledging this gesture, said: “I am happy once moie to be closely associated with French soldiers as my comrades in arms.”

ARMY POSTS

MORE CHANGES ANNOUNCED IN AUSTRALIA. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SMART GOING TO WASHINGTON. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Defence Minister, Mr F. M. Forde, announced that LieutenantGeneral E. K. Smart, G.0.C., of the

Southern Command area, had been appointed Australian Army representative at Washington. Lieutenant-Gen-eral H. D. Wynter, G.0.C., Eastern Command, will be in charge of the administration of Australian Army Headquarters. Major-General J. Northcott, G.0.C., Australian Armoured Division, has been promoted to . Lieutenant-Gen-eral and given an important command. Major-General H. C. H. Robertson is taking charge of the Armoured Division.