The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954)(about) |
Previous issue
Saturday 21 March 1942
Next issue
of 12
Next page
Send to:
|
3 corrections, most recently by anonymous - Show corrections
'I Came Through; I Shall Return
"I came through and I shall re- turn." General MacArthur de- clared when he spoke at Terowie of the beleagured Philippines
This remarkable soldier looked an impressive figure as he walked easily out of the train. Much to his surprise, and that of those who hoped his arrival at Terowie would be a profound secret, there was a burst of cheering and cries of "Welcome to Australia" from people partly hidden by a line of railway carriages. Turning swiftly, General Mac- Arthur strode towards an opening ' and saluted the Terowie people and passengers on a nearby train. His flashing smile was a tonic for those around, and there was another round of cheers and cries of "Good- bye and good luck" when he joined his wife and son, who had been watching admiringly from a few yards off the world's most famous and dashing general. After having asked whether his message would reach the United States. General Mac Arthur said:—i "The President of the United States ordered roe to break : through the Japanese lines and proceed from Corregidor to Aus- tralia for the purpose, as I under- stand it. of organising an Ameri- can offensive against Japan, the primary purpose of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came through and I shall return." Although General Mac Arthur had been in Australia for several days, this was his first interview with the press. He intimated that his original intention was to make a statement, if he considered it de- sirable, when he reached Mel- bourne. He said that, to avoid discrimina- tion he would make a very brief statement to the pressmen he saw yesterday. It had always been his general policy during actual opera- tions to limit himself completely to the briefest publicity and to con- fine such statements to general re- leases from his headquarters. Also in the party were the Chief of Staff (Major-General Richard H. Sutherland), Lieutenant-Colonel Hobbs and another officer. Two nurses, one an Australian and the other a Filipino amah, and two Australian army sergeants, were with General MacArthur when the party reached Terowie. The general, a tall and lean figure, was dressed in a loose hang-
ing jacket and slacks, and wore no decorations or insignia, except a laurel wreathed peak on his cap and another emblem. He looked fit He inspected a guard of honour of Australian soldiers under the command of Major G. A. S. Rogers, who saw service tn the last. war. Mrs. MacArthur's appearance in public was extremely brief, last- ing very few minutes She spoke to Major Rogers, and with her son, entered the coach ahead of General MacArthur. She was simply dressed and was hatless. At Ade- laide the general introduced his wife to American and Australian officers, describing her as "the best I soldier I have ".