AMERICAN COMMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN COMMENT

ON GENERAL MACARTHUR’S STATEMENT STRONGEST YET MADE DISAPPROVAL OF THE COURSE OF EVENTS ISSUE OF PACIFIC STRATEGY INVOLVED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, September 21. American correspondents interpret General MacArthur’s statement on Pacific strategy as a virtual admission that he has been shelved and his coni niand subordinated to Lord Aloind batten’s.

The New York “Daily News" correspondent, Mr Turcott, writes: “General MacArthur has boon side-tracked here since Bataan. He tacitly admitted that his plans for a Pacific victory have been rejected, and he is apparently commanding a third-rate unimportant drive against the Japanese.” The “New York Times” correspondent, Mr Kluckhorn, comments: “In spite of his guarded tone, General MacArthur went about as far as a commander on active service could in expressing disapproval of the course of events. The statement is considered the strongest General MacArthur has yet made.” Mr Kluckhorn says that the declaration is made at a time when reports that Lord Mountbatten will be supreme Allied commander in the western Pacific have not been officially denied, find when the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, publicly hinted that the Navy under Admiral King, will run its own show in the Pacific. “One fact stands out—the United States senior experienced combat general who has not been called home for consultation since the war began is seriously concerned about what he hears indirectly of Allied strategy in the Pacific and its cost in men and material. Thus, it is widely felt here that the statement is more than just one of repeated appeals to Washington for a few added sinews of warfare. It involves the issue of Pacific strategy.” The United Press correspondent, Brydon Taves, says that the statement apparently has two purposes, first, to request clarification of General MacArthur's position, vis-a-vis Lord Mountbatten; secondly, to defend strategic theories on which General MacArthur has based his conduct of the war and which has apparently been rejected by London and Washington. “General MacArthur is arguing that Australia is the logical base for the offensive against Japan, since this theatre is the only area where the need for island-hop-ping in the widest sense can be avoided.” the correspondent says. Official quarters in Washington refused to comment pending further information. Senator Ewin Johnson, a member of the Military Affairs Committee, said: “General MacArthur feels pretty deeply about the appointment of Lord Mountbatten to a job which rightfully should be his. I am glad he is speaking up.”