Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-24
e-Fighting,
War Similar
In Principles
You Can't Punch Soft
and Live Is One
BY HUGH $. JOHNSON

THE maxims Of professional
prize fighting sometimes
have an application TO the art
Of war. Frequently they are
too tricky. One that is not and
that has often been quoted here
is that of old Bob FitZSimmons' 4:
I'm a finish fight, you can't
punch soft and live. Give i'm
all YOU got or git out Of the
ring before they carry YOU out"
That is right every time in
war.
To an extent few people
imagined, this war has multi
piled the meaning Of the maxim,
because "all you got means
literally "all' not merely men,
materials, morale and money,
but also the hard-won reputa-
tons of men.
This column has been preach
inc that doctrine for almost
eight years. II is naturally
gratihed at this long last. 10
see most of them wholly or
partly adopted or on their way
10 adoption.
M0NG- the latest of these
"a are.
First. greater concentrations
Of power IN each different de-
partment Of industry in a fed
eral chief. each with single and
direct responsibility.
Second. immediate recognition
by rank and honorS Of proved
efficiency in commanders and
immediate punishment by de-
motion of those who fail.
Nothing that obstructS VIC
tory can be permitted 10 stand.
As was remarked here yeSter-
day, the organization Of federal
control over industry still lagS.
There has been an extreme re-
luctance 10 apply the ruthless
rule of dCmotionS or elmlna-
tons Of failures and outright
recognition Of merit that was
applied TO army and navy Off
Gers in the Pacific
Still these principles seem 10
be having some recognition. The
ridiculOuSly worded order shift
ing the duties Of Leon Hender-
son seems on careful analysis 10
denote him
But | am reliably told that II
was gladly conCurreu IN by HIM
and written as n was because u
gave him An opportunity 10 cNer-
else the power he needs without
any more specification and. IN
view Of his record In getting re-
suits without specified final pow
crS. he felt willing 10 take the
chance
! have seen him do just that
and have rarely seen him fail.
SO, ! feel that. while this IS a
long way around Robin Hood 5
barn II IS a step in the right
direction.
SOMETIMF.S the reasons for
- these actions do not appear
AZ once. This strange method
Of advancing Mr Henderson by
seeming 10 gI}c him The boot IS
SAID 10 have been partly result
Of Mr. Hlllman $ wishes and
ScnSibIlIicS.
In Douglas Macarthur Oplcn-
did and deserved promotion
without an overwhelming and
final victory. the. fact that
Chang kai-Shek is a Chinese
generaliSSimo and might one day
demand superior command IN
the Orient, IS said 10 have had a
bearing.
That raises another question
Macarthur Is IN a tough spot.
1t would be sad IT, because of
tho difficulty OF supplying and
supporting HIM. he should fail
and have the ruthless rule OF
handling high commanders APP
Piled 10 him in reverse.
~ would be sad bur not As
sad as some other possible SKY
rocket rise and fall could be. 4
regular officer once denoted for
inefficienCy usually returns home
10 live out his life in bitterness
and disappointment
Those who know this class
mate Of mine well are sure he
Will not be brought home dis
credited After a classic defense.
he would he found dead on the
field Of battle AZ tho head Of his
troops our army never pro-
duced more gallant soldier.
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