Evening star., 1943-09-10
., - A.TATl
GEN. MARSHALLS STORY
of the
Army and the War
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III.
Pearl Harbor Attacked - Tremendous
Transport Problem-Troops Sent to
Iceland - Defense Commands
Organized-Churchill Arrives
Jap Campaign in East

through the orderly channels of the
adopted system.
The First Meeting.
During this first meeting between
| the British and American military
authorities, which terminated jan
uary IA, 1912, steps were taken to
insure unified direction of the war
effort in the Far East to meet the
rapidly spreading attacks of the
Japanese in that area. Gen. Sir
Archibald Wavell, commander in
chief in India, who was in Chung
king, China, at the time with Mai.
Gen. (now 1t. Gem George H.
Brett OF the United States Army,
was designated supreme commander
for American, British, Dutch and
Australian forces, with Gen. Brett
as his deputy, and although the
strong, carefully prepared tide of
the Japanese advance overran the
philippines, the Netherlands East
indies, the Malay Peninsula and
Burma, the cooperative results OBJ
tanned in this desperate emergency
by the creation of a united COM
mand established a firm basis for
future combined operations.
The attack by Japan and the dec
laration OF war by Germany and
Italy Immediately involved the
United States and Great Britain in
war of global proportions unique
In the history of the world. 1t was
not merely war on two fronts but in
several theaters, with lines of COM
munication encircling the earth and
extending over $4,000 miles.
The Problems of Supply.
For both Great Britain and the
United States, military operations in
the Pacific area and the Far East
created unprecedented logistical
problems with respect to shipping.
Time and space factors dictated our
strategy to considerable degree.
To land and maintain American
forces In Australia required more
than twice the ship tonnage neces-
sary for similar American forces
IN Europe or North Africa. In this
critical period, however, it was nee
essary to establish without delay
large supply bases in Australia both
for air and ground troops and espe-
cially for the purpose of giving
logistical support to our forces In
the Philippines.
BY June, 1912, 150, 600 Army troops
as well as marine and Navy ground
echelons had been established in
the South and Southwest Pacific
areas. The peculiar topography and
character of the Australian CONT
nent made the task there one of
extreme difficulty. Australian dis
tances are tremendous, the COM
munications-road, rail and elec-
trio wire-were limited and compli-
Gated by the absence of standard
lzation, and the frontier for 4,500
miles was exposed to possible JAP
anese landings.
Japan struck at Hawaii, the
Philippines, Malaga and strategic
islands in the Central Pacific. With
the advantage of a long period of
preparation, including numerous
initial moves in China and Indo-
Ching to establish advance air
and other bases, and capitalizing
upon surprise action, the Japanese
launched their thrust to prevent
the concentration or reinforcement
Of Allied forces to halt the drive
south toward, Australia and Burma.
Tomorrow-Battle for the Phil
ippines-MacArthur Ordered to
Australia-FaH of Corregidor-
Bombing of Toxic.