1. A method of global addressing in a distributed memory computer having a multiplicity of local memories including a first local memory, each of the multiplicity of local memories storing a subarray of a global array, each subarray having a subarray base element, each of the local memories having a subarray base element memory address, the global array including a multiplicity of global elements, each of the local memories being associated with a processing device having a base pointer memory location for storing a base pointer pointing to the base element of the associated local memory, all of the multiplicity of local memories being accessible by each of the processing devices, the processing devices including a first processing device, a method of addressing an arbitrary global element stored within the first local memory associated with the first processing device, the method of global addressing comprising the steps of: a. for each subarray: 1. calculating a subarray offset; 2. calculating a base pointer value for the processing device associated with the local memory storing the subarray based upon the subarray offset and the associated subarray base element address; 3. generating base pointer electrical signals representative of the base pointer value; 4. storing the base pointer electrical signals within the base pointer memory location associated with the processing device associated with the local memory storing the subarray; b. receiving an arbitrary global element offset signal representative of the offset of the arbitrary global element; and c. generating address signals for local and nonlocal accesses of the arbitrary global element by combining the base pointer electrical signal for the first processing device with the arbitrary global element offset signal.