Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-26
Macarthur
Inspiration
To Soldiers
II Doubtful He Would
Leave if Men Stayed
BY HUGH $. JOHNSON

WILL Macarthur a d his
W army hold out like the
Greeks at Marathon and have 10
be killed like Gagged animals in
a trap?
There is little prospect Of
their relief in sufficient force 10
evacuate them. and knowing
Douglas Macarthur well, l have
little doubt that he will not sur
render as long as there is man
left TO serve gun.
There is very considerable
opinion that he should he or
dered out OF there alone leav-
ing the troops that have fought
for him so we'll 10 surrender,
That would put up 10 him ter
rihle choice and ordeal
l think the President has too
much humanity and affection
for him 10 place such burden
upon him. He would be torn be-
tween his duty to obey orders
and his flawless loyalty to his
men. Such decision would
have TO be made in his own
heart.
I DON'T know for certain what
Il il would be. hut | would give
odds that he would stay with his
men-regardless of his soldierly
respect for superior authority.
/ only know that | would hate
10 he the man who transmitted
such an order. Mac knows how
10 swear as well as General Per-
shing.
II would not he the first time
that he had such trying choice.
The first time was IN driving
the bonus marchers out Of Wash
ington. He did it in such ? way
that no one was hurt He Ate
his oMn smoke commanded
the troops himself 10 take the
onus off any subordinate COM
mander.
He has never. I THINK. Told The
true story while gossip said II
WAS his own action or that Sec
rotary Hurley ordered H. The
40
10 do that job by the President
Of the United States. as he
might be ordered to leave Luzon
IN this case.
But the circumstances were
very different. The bonus march
ers were treSpaSSerS violating
the laws.
These men are MacArthur'S
own men. who have shown their
willingness ~ die for him They
have lifted him 10 pinnacle Of
glory Would ne desert them?
| think not
EEW generals have done that
Il and gotten away with IT,.
Napoleon deserted his army in
Egypt. II might have ruined
him. hut he came home in time
10 seize the government. which
with what else ne proceeded TO
do. overShadowed his soldiers
shame. He never ceased TO re-
greet II until the last moment Of
his life.
There are few other instances
and they invariably ruined the
reputation Of the man who did
il Such a thought could not
find Judgment in Macarthur s
heart
Laying all this aside. the
stand Macarthur is making is A
national asset Of first magni-
tude These things automat-
iCally become military standards
for a whole people below which
II is disgrace for other troops
to fall.
The Alamo was such a high
measure Of undauntcd American
courage and faithfulncSS unto
death that il had much 10 do
with the many continuous VIC
tories Of Zachary Taylor and
Winfield Scott over Mexican
armies against almost unbe-
lievable odds
MANY Of the worlds greatest
A'I siegeS. battles and cam
paigns have been lost because
apparently beaten armies did
not hold out Just a day or two
longer.
No matter what happens 10
Macarthur, he has set an
example that will be- a military
asset worth whole army corps
10 his country as long AS the
flag continues 10 fly Let no
one do anything TO impair that
glory.
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