Evening star., 1944-05-03
Decision Clears Air
Macarthur Has Won for Self
A Place in Hall of Fame
By Dapid laurence

@'A0< A. uuA AAdS WON IOf CclI
A Place in Hall of Fame
By Dapid Laurence
Gen. Macarthur has achieved for
himself an enviable position In the
military world and a permanent place
In the hall OF fame. His decision to
eliminate further use of his name a.
presidential candidate by stating that
he would not accept the nomination,
has cleared the air in every sense.
But It would be mistake If any one
derived the impression that Gen. Mac
Arthur has been in any way militarily
hampered in the past because of the
frequent use Of his name in political
circles. Likewise, 1t Is wrong for any one
to assume that the general needed In
any way to use political pressure or
the threat Of q presidential candidacy
to get aid for the Southwest Pacific
theater Of war.
There have been even more ardent
advocates of greater help for the Pa
cific than Gen. Macarthur. At no
time, for instance, has the Navy lost
an opportunity to beg for more ma
terials and men to be employed in the
war against Japan. There was q time
earlier in the war when the demands
OF the Army Air Forces for planes for
Europe and North Africa were so heavy
that the Pacific got much less con.
sideration. But this was necessary
decision in overall strategy based on
the desire to win first the war against
Hitler in Europe.
Pacific Forces Grow.
Graduany-in fact, ever since the
Quebec conference last year-the Pa
cif1c war has been given substantial
recognition until today a very con-
siderable part of the Navy and a siz-
able air force is in the Pacific The
total number of men is not anywhere
near what the generals in command
would like to have but it is so much
more than IN 1912 or the early part of
1943 that to measure the contrast
would involve very high percentages.
Gen. Macarthur quite naturally has
pressed for more men and equipment.
So has every general in every theater
OF operations. The idea that the gen.
eral was disappointed and felt inclined
to be presidential candidate because
he couldn't get all the help he needed
has been buffeted about here but It
lacks any real substance because the
Joint United States Chiefs of Staff have
been on top of the situation every day
and the moment more help for the
Pacific became possibility it was or
dered there.
/ Presidential politics had nothing to
DO with the acceleration of the program.
And now that Gen. Macarthur has
eliminated politics from his surround-
ings, it does not mean that any diff.
ferent plan will be pursued than that
which has long been on schedule.
But one thing Is clear-the self
elimination Of Gen. Macarthur from
the political ring does make it easier
Tor his fellow commanders and for the
high command of Army and Navy and
air force men here to deal with him
on an impersonal basis. If general
is being considered for political Office
and his name is being used in primary
elections, it puts crimp into the reIa-
tions OF other generals with him.
They Thought He Would Saw II.
Incidentally the high officers here
have had no doubt from the beginning
that Gen. Macarthur would say ex-
actly what he did say. He intimated as
much to persons who had occasion to
tax with him about it many weeks ago.
In view OF his known attitude the only
surprise was that his announcement was
delayed. =.
BY refusing to have himself thrust
into the presidential race for any pur-
pose, Gen. Macarthur has concentrated
on his main job, which is to recapture
the Philippines. The day that the gen.
erai can hoist his flag in the Philippines
Will be proud one not only for him
but Tor every American. This may not
come to pass in 1914, though there are
some competent observers who think
that will happen. Certainly in 1e45
the invasion of the Philippines ought
to be accomplished
Gen. Macarthur has told friends that
1t Is his life's ambition now to head our
forces that march into Tokyo. Ger
talniy he Is in line for that honor and
Tor command which will have author
1ty over the entire Far East. So far a.
satisfaction of a soldiers aspirations.
tnere is nothing in the political world
that could quite match up with the
privilege which will come to the man
who leads the victorious Allied armies
into Japan.
Gen. MacArthur's broad experience
qualities him especially for the tre-
mendous responsibility that lies ahead
IN co-ordinating all Allied commands
Tor the final drive against Tokyo. The
general works well with the air forces
and has developed in recent months a
oetter and better liaison with the NAVY.
When Gen. Macarthur comes home.
the scars OF brief Irritation with ths
political world will have been erased.
and the only thing the American peonIe
Will remember-and they will remem.
Der 1t with eternal gratitude-is the
military achievement of Americas No
! hero
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