Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-18
Gen. Macarthur Needs
Much More Air Power

Much More HIr rover
THE forces commanded by Macarthur the South Pacific
/ should have vastly MORE air power
They have demonstrated what air can do by acheV-
ING many notable victories over the Japanese.
Gen Macarthur himself has proved to be one of the most
successful and brilliant air commanders in this war.
Moreover he has assembled staff of capable air officers
It, Gen George Kenney who developed and executed the
aerial campaign the Bismarck Sea which destroyed 22Sp
Japanese eenVet. great air commander.
Maj Gen Richard X Sutherland who Gen MacArthuI's
chief staff Baaan and later in Australia believes IN air
power and knows how It,
Both distinguished commanders, accompanied by
seven the highest ranking officers of the South Pacific air
force. in Washington appealing for additional and
sufficient ali power.
1t is imperative that their appeal be needed
They the against Japan with more air power.
They make short if they have enough planes
But they compelled to wait for adequate air power and
for essential military and naval support until the wal in Europe
North Africa settled and until Japan completely armed
equipped and enenched it will be hard for them to defeat
Japan and instead being short will be very long
In fact there that Japan be defeated
wait too long
The Japanese extremely powerful now-===
a FER they repaired all the oil fields in the Indies
a and have restored production all the rubber plantations
Malaga and Burma and have assured themselves of all the tin
and other vital metals available in the conquered lands the Jap
will be the powerful the richest and the most foni
dable people earth
We already know of that the Japanese the most
ambitious the ruthless and the people earth
We should and defeat the Japanese while they
comparatively weak and not wait until they have achieved their
maximum strength.
We have the competent commanders that task requires and
on the
We have the necessary planes but unfortunately NOT
the
Our air power is enormous, but scattered
Our plane production industries the best in the world
but their output is being dispersed too widely
Hence, the competent commanders Of the
PEELED to fight with too little and wait too long
There is for the American government to be
ctant to supply Gen Macarthur with the air power he needs
and must have to defeat Japan
THERE good for the New Deal administration to
be reluctant make it possible for Gen. Macarthur to
achieve total victory the Japanese quickly possible
He would be tremendously popular that event certainly
but he has renowned all political ambitions His only desire Us
to secure the South Pacific against further invasion and
quest and then to reclaim the Philippines and other American
possessions the Japanese have occupied and after that attack
reduce and destroy the Japanese military its homeland
Wherefore if is political consideration that withholding
adequate air power from Gen Macarthur is unWarranted OF
course the American should play politics at the
expense OF American lives and the risk of American defeat
But since Gen MacAhuris in politics. the politicians
should be willing to supply and support him.