Detroit evening times., 1945-09-01
CHAPTER VI
By LEE VAN Alta
international New, Service War Correspondent
(world Copyright. lsiS. All Rights Reserved

MYTH GEN. MacARTHUR'S FORCES IN YOKo-
w hama, Aug. 31-"War," Gen. Douglas Macarthur
has frequently said, ''s not science but an art
1t is the art of knowing when and where the art of
timing"
Lgcknwh the possible exception Of his tolerance
part in his planning
He hasn't grain of superstition. When things are
ready any day of the month is all right with him to strike
the foe. worried suggestion that something might go
wrong brings the sharp reply Ridiculous absolutely
ridiculous"
He accepts the third light on match or spills salt
on the table without qualm.
He believes that a bad brush stroke a canVos,
a note the piano Is the fault of the artist
not Of malicious fate So It is in WGT.
Gen. Macarthur applied his own brand Of artistry
Nov g. 1912 to the first definite offensive operation Of
his southwest Pacific command.
MORE than 5000 fully United State. troops were
NA from Port Moresby and
patches the north New Guinea
aIrborne unparalleled in American military
Many his followers doubted that the daring tactic would
es ancsny sHn Ut ~ permitted him. rus at
that early date to picture % & vast ae nVa0ns OF the uture
Only the asrblay Of which
w' ."an Demand Il. any tJtur. ~or IN: air hos rufur so
atss haVs begun scratch the real surface
n ',ss. RED % tn. . ."" mt % 5000 aS 9... %
:@.st III: Of haF m'io" 500 miles BY
Employing theory his airbOrne troops leaped the Owen
SSnsy Mountains and were able oygngh eesEe % the
struggling along the difficult Kooda trail between the north
coast of New Guinea and Port Moresby'
nearly eight waiting planning Macarthur
n the The nst in the series of bold
strokes" had been .
infantrymen logical followers ground
of u s. squadron finally stationed the dec
sve side of the Owen Stsnes The who had promised to
return" on his
happened Douglas Macarthur since the March
day COrregdor.
Th'r. 1ad bee" h. IS"s 6sh, for the d:.Osra:y rsed.4
saaa"t.d tn. equally difficult bottI. Of ship
ping 10 bring those materials.
continuing struggle keep the guerilla
forces of tn. Phappi"s supplied and their s"thuO' high
There problem of assembling developing
staff Of establishing and maintaining
gence enemy within striking
tance of dozen Allied bases over 4,OOOmle front.
There Of o stage battle:
northern Australia or southeastern New Guinea.
Macarthur had chosen New Guinea because from the point
sened the most practical base.
DUT he knew, stan, enemy attacked
virtually undefended Australia political pressure
might him counter that attack
ming Guinea be gamble
The whole future he it, called out the
north of New Guinea and from there the jump
Philippines To allow potential political ramhcaons influence
his military judgment would only endanger carefully planned
timetable and the lives Of many thousands.
There had been in the intervening period the fight for
Milne Bay and the Battle of the Kokoda trail
Macarthur, with strategica Judgment
baked at they were defeated in
hsht KokOda trail realized that a
campaign they would attempt seabOme assaults Milne
utmost secrecy Macarthur poured nearly division
OF Australian troops into Milne.
WHEN an 8OOOrong Japanese expedouary force steamed
w confidently bay they reception
accorded Imperial Maiestys Heaven-b
In sharp three-day engagement,
initiated the invasion all
merciless aerial bombardment.
With the Nip still rocking from the defeats Of Guadslcansl
the Kooda trail and Milne Bay Macarthur prepared strike