SECRET ILL KEPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1943, Page 3

SECRET ILL KEPT

ADMIRAL HALSEY’S VISIT TO SYDNEY CONFERENCE WITH GENERAL MACARTHUR, SPECULATION REGARDING WAR PLANS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Admiral Halsey flew to Australia a month ago to meet General MacArthur. His amval, presence and departure were closely guarded secrets. Even war correspondents cautiously referred to him among themselves as- “That seafaring gentleman.” However the Admiral’s incognito was partially destroyed on the first day of his arrival. Wearing slacks and a loose leather jacket, he took a stroll down the city shopping centre. People passed him. hesitated and then turned around for a closer look. It was soon obvious that Admit al Halsey was recognised The Admiral may have thought he was recognised from published photographs which are not ordinarily good likenesses ’ but the real secret of the discovery of his identity was much more simple. He had forgotten the leather patch, stitched on the left breast of his jacket, on which was stencilled his name. While General MacArthur’s headquarters are reticent about the details of the discussions between the two commanders and about the possibility of joint offensive action, war commentators generally see m their meeting prospects of early action. An American correspondent at an advanced South Pacific base says it is reported, unofficially, that General MacArthur and Admiral Halsey planned, an offensive, stretching from the Marshalls, through New Guinea, to the East Indie 1 ’ However, most commentators are content to make a more modest assessment of the possible scope of any Allied offensive in this area.