MacArthur, commander in the Southwest Pacific, pushes for an approach to Japan along the New Guinea-Philippines axis, while Central Pacific Commander Chester A. Nimitz favors the capture of key Central Pacific Islands to win strategic naval and air bases.

In the summer of 1943, Nimitz’s plan receives priority from the Combined Chiefs of Staff, but elements of MacArthur’s plan are also incorporated.

Nimitz is to island-hop through the Gilberts, Marshalls, Carolines, and Marianas, while MacArthur’s forces are to take northern New Guinea and islands lying in between New Guinea and Mindanao, the Philippines southernmost island.