Curtin and the generals. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)

SIR: I don't know what is worse about Hal Colebatch's criticism (Letters, December 2002) of my article "Reporting the Papuan Campaign" (November 2002)--his misrepresentation of my argument or his ignorance of the military history of the 1940s.

When I wrote "the real Kokoda raises disturbing questions about the American alliance, then and now. It is also the story of a prime minister who preferred to take advice from a foreign general who had just lost the Philippines and a Commander-in-Chief he knew was corrupt, instead of an honest and dedicated reporter" this did not state or imply that Curtin "should have fought the war on the advice of a journalist".

The journalist, Chester Wilmot, at considerable risk to his career, had gone to Curtin to urge him to reinstate Lieutenant-General Rowell after he had been relieved of his command by Sir Thomas Blamey. Wilmot also told Curtin that Blamey had lost the confidence of the Australian Army.

Before this encounter with the Prime Minister, Wilmot had accompanied 21st Brigade up the Kokoda Track, interviewed most of the commanders and prepared two confidential reports on the campaign for Rowell. Blamey on the other hand certainly visited New Guinea but never ventured up the Kokoda Track, while MacArthur at this stage had not even left Australia. In other words, Wilmot was much better informed than Blamey, who told a press conference there was no need for jungle green uniforms, or MacArthur, who seriously proposed building a road over the Kokoda Trail. Essentially, what Wilmot was suggesting to Curtin was that he ...