EAST ASIA COMMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1943, Page 3

EAST ASIA COMMAND

BELIEF IN WASHINGTON GENERAL STILWELL LIKELY TO BE APPOINTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 22. Lieutenant-General Stilwell rather than General MacArthur is likely to be appointed head of the new East Asia Command, to direct the United Nations offensive against Japan. This is the opinion of the majority of American war commentators. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and the British Eithth Army commander, General Montgomery, have also been mentioned for the post.

The new command will recieve the Comrnander-in-Chief, India, General Sir Claude Auchinleck, of responsibility for the conduct of the war against Japan in the India-Burma-CHina area. It is pointed out that General Stilwell came recently to America and was here throughout Mr Churchill’s visit, subsequently visiting London. General MacArthur has not been in close personal touch with the Allied leaders recently. General Stilwell is reported to have a happy personal relationship with General Auchinleck who would be an important assistant to the Allied general given the task of planning an eventual offensive against the Japanese thorough Burma. The New York “Daily News” columnist, John O’Donnel, says: “It is a sound belief in Washington thaVVinegar Joe’ Stilwell will take over the East Asia command. His authority would be such as General MacArthur has in the southern Pacific. A report that General MacArthur’s command will be enlarged to embrace the East Asia theatre of operations is doubted. Japan is supposed to be feinting till Tokio makes up its mind whether a supreme Gorman effort can knock out Russia. It the Russians are brought to their knees, Japan is expected to leap against Siberia. If Russia holds, General MacArthur will continue to face the full strength of Japan’s forces which are now massed between him and the Philippines.”