Evening star., 1944-09-19
Retaking Philippines
lis MacArihur's Job,
Nimitz Tells Legion
~ the Associate Press.

81 tne Assoclate0 PreeS.
CHICAGO, Sept. lo.-American
Legionnaires went into the Sec
ond session Of their annual con-
vention today pondering tidings
from high-ranking war leaders
OF blows to be delivered against
the Nations enemies.
From Admiral Chester w. Nimitz,
commander In chief Of the Pacific
Fleet. they heard that the con-
quest of the Philippines would be
the Job Of Gen. Douglas MacAr-
thurs Southwest Pacific forces, With
the Navy supporting and protect
ing the campaign.
From Gen. H. H. Arnold, chief OF
the Army Air Forces, they heard
that the aerial arm had been built
up to carry air warfare Into the
very heart Of Germany and Japan"
and that the Army long had been
planning an "all-out" punch at the
Japs.
80 Divisions In Action.
Both addressed Legion members
last night-Gen. Arnold in person
and Admiral Nimitk by radio-after
Gen. George G. Marshall, the Army's
chief of staff, had disclosed that
so American divisions had reached
the lighting fronts and that 8 more
would sail this month.
Today, the convention heard Pres
ident william Green OF the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor assert that
wartime strikes have been very few
and far between"
Admiral Nimitz, discussing the
general drive westward in the Pa
cific, said completion of the seizure
OF Palau would isolate the Japanese
In the Carolines, render their Truk
base next to useless" and put the
Yanks In position to strangle COM
munications between Japan proper
and Japan's conquered territories in
New Guinea and the Dutch East
Indies.
Finally" he added, when Palau
falls, q formidable obstacle to our
eventual return to the Philippines
Is swept away, and We will have 4
base from which to cover and sup
port MacArthur's Philippine cam
paign."
Gen. Arnold stated maintenance
OF the air forces in top fighting form
Is essential to our future safety and
termed universal military training q
necessary national policy.
Calls for Airbases.
He also submitted that I'VE must
have airbases under our control
spread far out beyond our shores
where they are needed"
The total strength Of the Army
and air forces deployed in battle
is more than 4,000, 900. Gen. Marshall
disclosed.
Outlining the overseas strength of
the Army and the effort required
to keep 1t supplied in the field, Gen.
Marshall reported that besides the
60 divisions already at the front and
the divisions soon to sail, an even
greater strength-2,l55,000 officers
and mems represented In the
combat zones by corps and Army
troops not organized as divisions,
plus service troops.
Green Calls for Unity.
In his address, Mr.. Geen said,
Strikes - have not materially
affected the war program. Further.
more. insofar as American Federa.
ton Of Labor unions are concerned,
they have been local, unomcial and
Of brief duration"
As victory approaches, Mr.. Green
said, organized labor is becoming
increasingly concerned over the ne
cessity of developing q Nationwide
postwar program which will provide
jobs for all and offer full economic
opportunities for the millions Of
servicemen who will return to
civilian life"
Mr.. Green, calling on the Legion
ito accord to American workers 4
measure Of credit for their service
to the Nation in its time OF need
stated that "in times past, when q
great clamor arose in the press and
radio against labor, condemnatory