Evening star., 1943-01-21
Patch Heads SoIomons Forces;
Most of Marines Withdrawn
Officer Commands
Area as Leuthernecks
Are Given Rest

Undersecretary of War Pat
terson said today the marines
largely have been withdrawn
from Guadalcanal, and that Maj.
Gen. Alexander M. Patch,
U. S. A., has taken over command
of all the ground forces in the
SolomonS area.
Gen. Patch, who has moved his
headquarters from New Caledonia
to Guadalcanal, relieved Maj. Gen.
Alexander G. Vandegrift, commander
Of the marine force that established
beachhead on the island.
Gen. Patch, who commanded the
Army troops which landed in New
Caledonia last year, relieved Gen.
Vandegrift not quite month ago,
Mr. Patterson said.
Gen. Patch's home Is in Wash
ington.
s. Gen. Vandegrift and his marines
who have fought so long and so we'll
have been withdrawn for a we'll de-
served rest" Mr.. Patterson said at
press conference.
The Army troops and Gen. Patch
are under the general command of
Maj. Gen. Millard F. Harmon, who
commands all Army troops in the
South Pacific, but the operations in
that entire area are still under the
command of Admiral william F.
Halsey, Mr.. Patterson said.
The American position in the
Solomons has improved further dur
ing the last week, Mr.. Patterson
said, but the japanese are expected
to make new efforts to reinforce
their troops on Guadalcanal.
The marines have been on Quad
alcanal since August 7. Several
weeks later, Mr.. Patterson said, the
Army began sending landing forces.
No indication was given at the Navy
Department of the new marine as
signment to be given Gen. Wander
drift nor of where he will go from
the Solomons.
rs Years in Army.
Gen. Patch, whose wife lives at
the Highlands Apartments, Connec-
ticut avenue and California street
NV, is a veteran of more than Is
years service in the Army. He was
born at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., the
son of an Army officer assigned
there.
A graduate of West Point, he went
to France in, the World War. He
has been stationed at Camp Ben
ming, Ga; in Washington, at Staun-
ton Military Academy, at Fort Eus-
tbs, Va; in Alabama, at Fort Bragg,
N. c., and Camp Croft, S. c., at vari-
Gus times. He is SO years old.
Gen. Vandegrift, SIS, was born at
Charlottesville, Va, and first was ap-
pointed a second lieutenant in the
Marine Corps in 1909. He attained
his present rank in March, 1912. His
wife lives at 1907 Forty fourth srteet
NV.
Reporting on global warfare in
general, Mr.. Patterson said the
overall picture is decidedly brighter
this week" He warned againts too
much optimism, however.
But with the increased flow of
Allied manpower we may look with
confidence to ultimate victory" he
said.
New Guinea Success Near"
Gen. Douglas MacArthur's cam
paign in New Guinea, he declared, is
drawing to "a successful conclusion"
"A japanese force Of, 5000 in New
Guinea has been almost literally
annihilated," he declared.
This has been accomplished with
much heavier japanese losses than
the American Australian casualties,
MIR. Patterson declared. and the
Australian losses in New Guinea
were somewhat heavier than our
own"
Gen. MacArthur's forces have
proved superior in jungle fighting. in
which the Japanese are so adapta-
BILE, Mr.. Patterson said.
Allied air forces are still main
tanning their superiority in the
North African air, Mr.. Patterson
said, two Axis planes being shot
down for every Allied plane lost