MELBOURNE, VIC. 1943-04-05. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR JOHN LAVARACK KBE CB CMG DSO, ...

MELBOURNE, VIC. 1943-04-05. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR JOHN LAVARACK KBE CB CMG DSO, GENERAL-OFFICER-COMMANDING FIRST AUSTRALIAN ARMY (LEFT), GENERAL SIR THOMAS BLAMEY GBE KCB CMG DSO, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ALLIED LAND FORCES, SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA AND AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES, (CENTRE) AND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL R.L. EICHELGERGER KCBE, COMMANDER 1ST CORPS, U.S. ARMY, IN HAPPY MOOD DURING PRE-DINNER DRINKS IN THE OFFICERS MESS OF THE STAFF OF SIGNAL OFFICER-IN-CHIEF, AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES AT "ILLOURA", ST KILDA ROAD. IN COMPANY OF ALL SENIOR STAFF OFFICERS AND SENIOR FORMATION COMMANDERS IN THE U.S. AND AUSTRALIAN FORCES IN THE SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA, THEY WERE ATTENDING A DINNER ARRANGED IN ORDER THAT SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE U.S. AND AUSTRALIAN FORCES COULD MEET SOCIALLY AND BECOME ACQUAINTED, AS VERY FEW HAD YET MET. THE GATHERING, WHICH HAD THE APPROVAL OF GENERALS MACARTHUR AND BLAMEY, WAS A GREAT SUCCESS SOCIALLY AND ALSO FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE FORCES OF THE TWO NATIONS.