The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-17

lngton. He said Macarthur at that
time actually was only the COM
mander Of u s, forces,
Today Stimson said:
I'm answer 10 the general uues-
ton and In order 10 settle definitely
what I regard more or less as q
tempest In teapot I can tell you
without violating military oonfl-
denee that Gen. MaeArthur's COM
mand closely approXimates that
which the United Nations gave Gen,
WRvell IN much the same area"
British Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell
was given supreme command OF
United Nations air, sea and land
forces IN the southwest Pacific early
In the war, He rellnquished that
command TO so to india,
Since April Ord
Stimson told reporters that q
directive detailing MaeArthur's pow.
ers had been worked out since April
8 by oil OF the nations concerned
and that there had never been any
misunderstanding about the char
ncter OF his command.
He said that the Dutch and
Australians "eeoperated warmly"
In the command, but he declined TO
say whether New Zealand was In.
cluded In the southwest Pacific
command.
Pressed for details OF the bound
aries OF MecArthur'S command,
stlmson replied;
"That Is n military secret shall
not divulge. II the President re.
garded II as q military secret,
shall not try TO elaborate on IT,"
Ho said that he had had FREE
quent communication with Nee.
Arthur and that Macarthur had
never once raised any question
about the extent Of his command.
Frankly am surprised at tho
statement by the military spokes.
man and I shall be glad to know
II he was authorized to make any
such pronouncement," stimnson
said.
He said that "a great deal Is be-
Ing made out OF very little"
Macarthur Awaits Word
Gen. MaeArthur's Headquarters
Australia, April iT-(UP) Gen.
Douglas Macarthur expects to re-
ceive at any hour instructions from
Washington which will clarity his
position ag United Nations supreme
commander In the Southwest Pa
ciflc. II was understood today.
II was hoped that Macarthur
would be able TO start next week
on the final organization Of his
staff and turn himself TO opera
tional problems OF securing Aus.
tralIa against q Japanese attack
and planning the offensive which
Is TO roll back the enemy invaders
from the territory they have over.
run.
In view OF the obvious mlSunder-
standing regarding MacArthur's
authority and territory, many
Australians were puzzled by Prime
Minister John curtins assumption
Of the new post OF Defense Minis
ter, In charge politically OF oil
Australian fighting forces,
Curtin had pledged himself
against there being any interfer-
ence with Macarthur. Nevertheless
some Australians regarded his
creation OF the defense post for
himself, "as the link between the
Australian government and Gen.
MecArthurs operational control
OF the Australian forces, placed ct
his disposal" as O plain hint OF q
limitation To MecArthurs authority,
There Was further development
yesterday when II was announced
that Australian Lieut.. Gen. Sir
Thomas Blamey, who Is IN com.
mand OF United Nations land
forced as MacArthur'S deputy,
would cease TO attend meetings Of
the Australian War Cabinet and
war Council meetings because he
Is busy training troops and re-
organizing defenses. In his place
Lieut., Gen. v. A. II. sturdee, Aus.
tralian Chief OF Army 5taff, Will
attend the meetings.