DIVIDED COMMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1942, Page 4

DIVIDED COMMAND

IN SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC ASSAILED BY NEW YORK PAPER. VIEWS OF SOVIET OBSERVER. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) NEW YORK, Septemoer 14. The Japanese advances in New Guinea are largely due to the lack of a unified command in the SouthWest Pacific, says the “New York Daily News.” The Solomons offensive is described as a Navy show, with General MacArthur s bomber assistance, received none too graciously. The New Guinea affair is an Army show, with General MacArthur in charge. He is responsible to the army secretary, Mr Stimson. Admiral Ghormley is in charge of the Navy show and is responsible to Admiral Nimitz, who in turn is responsible to the Navy Secretary, Colonel Knox. “When General MacArthur, .was rushed to Australia, after his brilliant defence of Batan, Washington saluted him as a great hero and let it be generally known that he would, have charge of the South-West Pacific, the newspaper adds. “Then the Navy sailed into" the picture. Our enemies are skilled in the art of taking advantage of our divided counsels. . The Japanese began their war against America with the advantage that the Aimy general and a Navy admiral commanaing in Hawaii were hardly speaking io each other, though both were , supposed to be defending Pearl Haroour. We cannot win this war oy, divided command and counsels and by ping authority away from capable military'men.” . :n+nrv Colonel Tolchenov, a Soviet r'lilitar’y observer, writing in the “Red S^I’’ 1 ’’ says the Japanese cannot aff°ra [P stop their advance towards Australia, n •Japan stops now, it will enable the Allies to strengthen their position. Japan. having captured tremendous island territories, cannot hope to noia them while restricting the activities or her troops to Pacific defence.