Evening star., 1942-01-03
Chang 10 Direct
Land.Air Action
In China Theater
Brett and Hart Given
Posts Under Unified
Setup Of Axis Foes
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

by JUhN y. HENh1.
Implementing yesterdays dec
laration of all-out coordination
of war plans and resources Of 26
united nations, the White House
this afternoon announced that
Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell, So.
British hero of the first Libyan
campaign, has been designated
supreme commander Of all the
anti-Axis fighting forces in the
Southwest Pacific area.
Comparable supremity of COM
mand for all land and air forces in
the China theater of war. including
Thailand and Indo-China, was des-
ignated to Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek.
AS immediate subordinates to
Gen. Wavell, who recently has been
commanding all empire forces in the
southern Asiatic area, were named
the following
Maj. Gen. George H. Brett. chief
of the United States Army Air
Corps, to be deputy supreme COM
mander.
Admiral Thomas C. Hart, COM
mander of the United States Asiatic
Fleet. to be commander of all naval
forces in the Southwest Pacific.
Gen. Sir Henry Pownall, new Brit
ish commander in Singapore, to be
chief of staff to Gen. Wavell who
will assume his command in the near
future
Suggested by Army Chiefs.
Selection of Gen. Wavell now
commander for India and Burma,
was made at the suggestion Of
American and British chiefs of staff
and was concurred in by The Neither
lands government, Australia and
New Zealand
The announcement-issu here
by President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchil-was made si-
multaneously in the capitals con-
cerned. There was no precise def
milton Of the Southwest Pacific area
where Gen. Wavell will be supreme
commander" but it was authori-
tatively said to include the general
region of Singapore, Malaga. The
Netherlands Indies and the Philip
pines where Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur is leading Americana Filipino
troops in dogged battle against
the Japanese.
Gen. Brett, a deputy chief of the
United States Army staff, has been
in the Far East for some time. Only
a few days ago a military council
was created in Chungking, China,
composed of Gen. Wavell, Chang
Kai-shek and Gen. Brett.
American naval contingents al
ready have been cooperating with
the British and Dutch Navies in the
Southwest Pacific. but the where
abouts of Admiral Hart's main
forces naturally have been shrouded
in secrecy since the Japanese sneak
attack on Pearl Harbor December 7.
Transferred Last July.
Gen. Wavells headquarters re-
Gently have been at Simla, India,
where he was transferred last July.
He changed places with Gen. Sir
Claude Auchinleck, present British
Near East commander
American and British officers. not
identified, will serve on the Joint
headquarters staff of Gen. Chang
Kai-shek. it was announced.
The White House announcement
of this integration of fighting
strength and responsibility in a
major theater of the war specified
the blueprint for unified command
grew out of proposals submitted to
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Church.
i'll by the American and British staff
officers participating in consulta-
tlons here during the last two weeks.
Expectation that there will be fur
ther far-reaching cooperative steps
Is increased by the knowledge that
throughout the last two weeks of
British American consultations
there has been drafted a gigantic
inventory of the resources of three
flfths of the world-the portion al.
ready at war with the aggressor ma
tions. In many cases, it is believed,
tentative accords already have been
reached with individual nations for
the channeling of such resources
into the common effort.
Record Of Solemn Intent.
In effect, the joint declaration
promulgated with approval of all
these nations yesterday is more than
anything else "a record" of the SOL
emn intent of the signatory govern
mentS to participate to the fullest
into this collective effort-without
retreat until there is victory
Conceived primarily by the Presi-
dent and Secretary of State Hull,
the declaration used as its catalyst
the broad principles of international
humanity found in the Atlantic
charter, entered into by Mr. Roose-
velt and Mr.. Churchill during their
meeting at sea last August.
i The pronouncement commits the
signatory governments to fullest
military and economic cooperation
for the duration, and leaves the way
: open for further enlistments to the
anti-Axis cause.
Roosevelt First Signer.
. President Roosevelt was the first
(see SOLIDARITY, Page A-3)