The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-07-16
Complex Pacific Command

Complex Pacific Command
AS the war in the Pacific whips up and
larger and larger air, ground and naval forces
are engaged the question Of an over-all--com'
mand-on-the-spot commands greater attention
As Gordon Walker, Christian Science Monitor
correspondent at Guam, says, the command
structure now is ''about as complex as
corporation income tax return
It collides at so many points, he adds, that
liaison officers between command organiza.
tons are as numerous as they were in Eur
ope." But he adds quickly that despite the
complexities the situation has not hampered
the brilliant progress Of the war; which
speaks well, we think, for the harmony among
forces and commands engaged in driving the
Japanese into surrender. In fact, Mr.. Walker
emphasizes the fact that there has been covert
complaints heard from any of the top COM
nanders.'
There is no denying, however, that as the
situation now exists, there is reason enough
for complaint were it not for the united pull
in all branches of the armed services. Here
is how it stands, as Mr.. Walker explains it.:
The Pacific is divided into two principal
command areas-the Commander in Chief OF
the Pacific Operational Area and the South
west Pacific Command Such a division was
cxplainable few months ago when each COM
mand was fighting a separate war on separate
fronts
Now however, the two commands have con-
veroed and the amont If overlannino author.
ity has increased to point where it is almost
impossible to trace the lines of demarcation.
A typical example is the case Of the Seventh
Fleet under Vice-Admiral Thomas c. Kinkaid.
The Seventh Fleet is at the moment duty
in the Southwest Pacific, therefore under Gen.
eral MacArthur's operational control, but
under Admiral Chester W. Nimitz' administra-
tive control
This means that if Admiral Kinkaid wants
to land a certain ship on a certain beachhead
he must obtain General MacArthur's orders
or sanction. But if Admiral Kinkaid wants to
send one Of his ships back to the United States
for a rest or if he wants to alter personnel.
he must consult Admiral Nimitz.
The command becomes even more complex
in matters Of supply. Supply Of the Seventh
Fleet is handled through the Navy service
force under General MacArthur's ultimate
sanction. But the fleet air arm attached to the
Seventh Fleet is supplied through authority of
the command of the Air Force of the Pacific
which is part of Admiral Nnitz's command
structure
An example Of this overlapping is apparent
now on Okinawa.
Okinawa is a naval base, and as such comes
under tie theater in command Of Admiral
Nimitz.
Admiral Ninitz is the military governor and
is in complete command of all naval forces
N the area.
| The Tenth Army on Okinawa was formerly
under Admiral Ninitz's entire control, but
when General Macarthur assumed command
of all Army ground forces in the Pacific, The
Tenth Army passed under his administrative
authority while remaining under Admiral Nj
MITES operatonal control.
AS commander of Army forces in the Pacific,
he recommended appointment of Gen. Joseph
w. StilWell as new Tenth Army chief after
Lieut.. Gen. Simon Buckners passing on. But
:nasmuch as the Tenth Army is in the Navy
bailiwick, General Stilwell receives operational
orders tom and reports to Admiral Nimitz
Moreover, General Stlwell, though General
MacArthur's field commander, is actually in
command of certain naval surface air force:
in the Ryukyus by reason of his recent ap.
pointmenl as commander of the Ryukyus.
Under the present system, the only overall
command for Pacific areas is vested in joint
Chiefs Of Staff in Washington. Presumably
This system does away with the need for an
overall commander on the spot
Community PRAYER DAVIS