Evening star., 1942-03-03
WaveI| Sent 10. India,
Dutch 10 Command
Fight for Indies
No Chonee in Strategic
Policy Is Involved. e
Statement Asserts

Policy Is Involved, @
Statement Asserts
By the Associated Press.
In Java's most desperate hour
the Dutch took over supreme
command of the fight for the
Indies today after the United
Nations acknowledged that Jap
anese successes had split the
Allied front in the South Pacific,
creating a grave threat to British
India.
The removal of Sir Archibald
| Wavel as commander in chief in
the Indies and his return to his for
mer post as commander in chief in
India was pointed evidence that the
Allies expected the enemy drive
through Burma to assume more
formidable proportions.
| The shift in commands, disclosed
here by the Army and Navy in a
joint statement, was not considered
an indication of any sudden worsen-
ing Of the situation in Java. On the
contrary, the belief was that Gen.
Wavell had transferred his head
quarters to Burma before the Jap
anese opened their assault on Java.
The joint Army-Navy statement
made plain that the move meant no
change in plans for general co-or-
dination of strategic policy" but
| had been taken for tactical consid-
erations.
after the loss of Malaya." it ex-
planned, land the entry of the jap
anese into Sumatra. which separated
Burma from the Netherlands East
Indies, 1t was agreed that command
of land, sea and air forces of the
United Nations in the Netherlands
East Indies should pass to the Dutch,
who are continuing to receive all
available assistance from the United
Nations"
There was hint that the Wavell
transfer might have political as well
as military significance, for well-in-
formed sources in London believed
it could foreshadow a British offer
of dominion status to India.
Gen. Wavell, one of the most re-
spected Allied generals, was regard
ed as a man who could make the
most of the upsurge of national feel
ing that would result in India and
make it a fighting force.
Gen. Wavell, now So, is rated as a
brilliant strategist, who prefers the
unorthodox and daring to tradi-
tional tactics. In the fall of 1910. in
Northern Africa, he struck lightning
blows at Italy's Army and his men
overran half of Libya.
Took Control of Iran.
In the spring Gen. Wavell shifted
large number of his men from
Libya to meet a German invasion of
Greece, only to have the Germans
chase the British from both Greece
and Libya.
Shifted to India, Gen. Wavell di-
rected British forces which swiftly
took control of Iran. On January 3
of this year he was given command
of the United Nations forces in the
Southwest Pacific.
There was no immediate word as
to the status of Maj. Gen. George H.
Brett, U. S. A., deputy commander
under Gen. Wavell of the Allied
forces in the Southwest Pacific.
It was assumed that he remained
as deputy commander under the
new Dutch chief.
(The Army-Navy statement did
not name the Dutch chief who
would take over the command.
Jonkheer Alidius Tjarda van
Starkenborgh-S -Stachouwer is gov
ernor general Of the Netherlands
Indies and 1t. Gen. Helm ter
Poorten is in command of Dutch
land forces)
India's defense bulks large in the
global strategy of the United Ma
tions, for the great subcontinent
IS the land route that the Japa-
neSe would have to traverse If they
tried to join hands with any syn
chronized Axis drive through the
Near East. An ambitious pincers
movement of such huge proportions
Is not excluded as a possibility.
However, while the United Ma
tions still were forced to fight hold
ing actions, except in Russia, there
was official assurance that prepara-
tions for offensive operations of an
important character were being
pushed with all possible speed.
Admiral Ernest j. King, COM
mander in chief of the United States
Fleet, and Gen. George G. Marshall,
United States Army Chief of Staff,
both declared yesterday that the
armed forces were getting ready to
carry the fight to the foe.
Admiral King. in one of the few
statements he has made since he
took charge of the fleet, told the Ma
ton not to expect miracles, but re-
ported that IAN all-out effort is be-
ing made in the unspectacular but
vitally essential task of establishing
our sea and air communications"
appropriate measures are being
TAKEN" he went on, Ito strengthen
the key points of these communica-
Jtions, with view to developing an
offensive, which slowly but surely,
will gain scope and power as we gain
strength, through the production of
aircraft, ships and guns.
Currently, therefore, the United
States fleets are carrying on with the
basic idea to do more than your
best with what you've got This
means to take and make every op-
portunity to harass and damage the
enemy, while building soundly for
his ultimate defeat"
Enormous Amount of Work.