Evening star., 1943-11-19


Of the war.
Any inference or insinuation that
personal or party politics influences
4 the decisions in any way is a re-
Election on the judgment of these
four men and an implication that
.they would acquiesce in such in
trusion of personal or party politics
by anybody.
These comments are occasioned
by the evident impression being
spread that Gen. Macarthur isn't
getting enough supplies and that
the reason is somehow attributable
to neglect, the theory being that
to build his prestige is to make him
a strong rival nominee in a contest
with President Roosevelt in 1914.
Insinuations Are Unjust.
Any idea that the war is being
conducted on such a petty basis
does a grave injustice primarily to
Gems. Marshal and Arnold and Ad-
mirals King and Leahy. Any one
who knows the sterling character
and independence of each Of these
men and their devotion to military
duty must resent the inferences and
innuendoes.
This correspondent Is convinced
equally that all the implications
that have been distributed concern
ing Gen. MacArthurs' alleged po-
litical ambitions are not in any
way encouraged by him because the
general is not that kind of an
American. AS long as he wears the
uniform of his country, he will not
indulge in political activity no mat
ter how much others may see fit
to use his name for political pur-
poses without his authority.
Unquestionably Gen. Macarthur
wants more men and materials and
would like to lead his troops back
to the Philippines. Undoubtedly
he would like to see substantial
units of the Navy placed at his
disposal for certain offensive oper-
ations starting in his zone. But the
joint United States chiefs of staff
have other plans for naval Often
sives, and in due time Gen. Mac
Arthur will have an opportunity to
play his part in their execution.
Pacific Offensive Begun.
The offensive In the Pacific has
begun. Every days dispatches tell
of the use Of land-based planes and
large task forces Of aircraft car
riers which are beginning to clear
the sea lanes that will make it pos
sible for us to land in the Philip
pines and on the China coast. Eu-
rope is the Number l theater of
war and the Pacific will get every
thing when Hitler collapses, though,
meanwhile, there has been a sub
stantial increase in what has been
shipped to the Pacific.
The Chicago Tribune" which has
been praising Gen. Macarthur edi-
torially, says in an editorial this
week that it has never put forward
the name of Gen. Macarthur as a
presidential candidate heretofore,
merely supporting what it believes
is the need for sending him more
supplies, but adds that "if the
Roosevelt administration is neglect
ing the national interests for the
purpose Of heading of a possible
Macarthur candidacy, it could
hardly have adopted a more po-
litically stupid course"
"If Gen. Macarthur continues to
be stifed for political reasons" says
the Tribune editorial, "his only re-
course will be to resign the command
where he is denied the opportunity
of exercising his talents and
through political candidacy take the
issue to the people. He has repeat
edly said that his only ambition
is the military defeat Of the jap
anese and has disavowed any po-
litical plans"
La Toilette Letter.
incidentally, the Chicago Tribune
last week published letter to Its
publisher from Philip La Toilette,
former Governor of Wisconsin and
now a lieutenant colonel on Gen.
MacArthur's staff. The full text
reads as follows:
Il have meant to drop you a line
for some time. Wanted you to know
how much we all appreciated the
SPLENDID editorial on Gen. Mac
Arthur and how much wish were
there to give you word OF COM
mendation for the fight you are
putting up. You and I have dis
agreed on a good many things, but
the way you have stood up, taken
it on the chin and kept coming
back to give 'em some more during
the last year is grand. Perhaps
some day some Of us over here can
put our oar in back home and lend
a helping hand.
1--WE have finished with the Lac
Salamaua campaign and in many
ways 1t Is a model. II the country
only gives Macarthur the minimum
means he'll do great job in the
Pacific. And I know how much you
are aiding in seeing that he gets
something like fair deal"
This impression that Gen. Mac
Arthur isn't getting "a fair deaT'
must evidently prevail at his head
quarters m the Southwest Pacific,
because the press dispatches of the
correspondents there seem also to
convey skepticism and doubt. Here
In Washington careful investigation
i,, 81 D.