Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-25

chief in the Southwest Pacific, has
paid to the potency of air power
in the modern sense of that term
may be expected to have far
reaching influence on the conduct
Of the war
General Macarthur has just con-
cluded an extraordinary campaign.
In a relatively short space of time
the forces under his command have
won notable victory, driving across
the towering Owen Stanley Noun
tain range and through the steaming
jungles of New Guinea to pin down
and destroy a force of $4,000 crack
japanese troops. With conventional
tactics employed, this is the sort
of operation that might have taken
months, even years, and then there
could have been no assurance of
victory. But, with traditional con-
cepts out the window, the American
and Australian forces achieved a CO.
ordination Of air and ground units
that swept on to final victory in
a matter of weeks, and, in Gen.
eral Macarthur judgment, thereby
worked out the pattern for future
fighting in the Pacific.
So impressed was the commander
in chief with the performance of the
air units, that he went to the unusual
extent of issuing a formal written
tribute to Lieutenant General George
c. Kenney's Papuan air force
"The outstanding lesson of this
campaign" General Macarthur said,
was the continuous, calculated ap-
plication of air power employed
in the most intimate tactical and
logistical union with ground troops.
The effect Of this modern instru-
mentality (air power was sharply
accentuated by the geographical limi-
tations Of this theater. For months
on end, air transport with constant
fighter coverage moved complete in
fantry regiments and artillery bat
talions across the almost impene-
trable mountains and jungles of
Papua and the reaches of the sea,
transported field hospitals and other
+ base installations to the front, sup
piled the troops and evacuated
casualties" In addition, he declared,
the bomber units provided all-around
reconnaissance, protected the coast
from hostile naval intervention" and
blasted the way for the infantry
as 1t drove forward.
In this experience, General Mac
Arthur concluded, "a new form of
campaign" was tested which points
the way to the ultimate defeat of
the enemy in the Pacific-a defeat
to be accomplished by the "applica-
ton of offensive power in swift.
massive strokes rather than the
dilatory and costly island island
advance that some have assumed to
be necessary"
Although General Macarthur has
not been numbered among those
old-line officers who have resisted
the advance of air power his mill
tary background has been with the
infantry and the engineers, and this
lends special emphasis to the esti-
mate he has given of the proper
employment of the air arm. 1t
should be noted, for instance, that
he credits the bombers with having
! protected the coast from hostile
naval intervention. Traditionally,
this has been the function, first of
the Navy, and then of the ground
forces. Only recently, perhaps since
Midway, has 1t been generally recog-
nized that air power can do this Job
more efficiently and at far less cost.
Significant also is the fact that the
Navy Is mentioned but once in the
Generals statement, and then it is
cast in supporting role. This
should not be construed necessarily
as an Endorsement of the theme that
the Navy has been supplanted by
air power, but it does mean-clearly
hAAA utAtikloOdhdOlJ- naval pOWtI
can exert little influence in the type
of warfare that we must wage in
many sections of the Pacific.
If this be correct, however, Ii
should be heartening to the people OF
this country, for it is in the air, and
in the all-around employment of all
power, that we can most surely out
distance the enemy. BY modern
standards General Macarthur hac
but a negligible air force at his
command, for we are just hitting
our stride in the production of air
planes and the trained crews to mar
them. In the near future we viii
have many more, and better, plane;
in the Southwest Pacific. If thi;
new instrument, properly employed
can open the way to victory, thai
is cause for rejoicing on our part.