Question

Why did General Douglas MacArthur go to Australia in 1942?
to take command of all US army forces in the Far East
to avoid capture by the Japanese in the Philippines
to plan war strategies with General Eisenhower
to gather reinforcements and return to the Philippines

Answer 1

to avoid capture by the Japanese in the Philippines

Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to leave the Philippines in March 1942 so he could escape capture, continue to command Allied forces from Australia, and organize the eventual counteroffensive ("I shall return").