Evening star., 1950-12-02
BY the Assoeiaied Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
TOKYO, Dec. 2.- Tert OF
series OF questions submitted by
Uarions neaDSme7t and anStDerS
By Gen. Macarthur, released by
Army Headquarters at pm.
q am. EST today:
@. /. How would you classify
the overall situation now existing
in Korea?
A. A state of undeclared war
between the Chinese Communists
and the United Nations forces now
exists. Chinese forces are sup
ported by remnants of the de-
feated North Korean army.
@. 2. What is the strength of
enemy forces?
A. The immediate Chinese
forces engaged comprise approx
mately 100000 men divided into
two great echelons. The front
echelon now engaged in attack
upon our forces comprises some
thing more than one-half of this
force, with the rear echelon
rapidly moving UP from the Yalu
River bases.
In the Yalu River sector also are
the remnant North Korean
forces now being rebuilt and re-
organized under Chinese auspices
amounting to an estimated 100,-
900 to 10000 men. The total
strength. therefore. which our
forces face amounts to about 600,-
900 men. Whether additional
forces will be brought up cannot
as yet be determined.
@. 8. How does this number
compare with the Allied nations
ground forces in Korea?
A. This overwhelmingly out
numbers our forces. the exact
strength of which I would not
care to give.
Enemy Well Equipped.
@. 4. Is the enemy well
Equipped?
A. His forces are thoroughly
equipped with modern and eff
cient weapons. Man for man.
our fire power is probably slightly
greater than his, but this is, COM
pensated for by his simpler and
less complicated organization,
which puts a greater number rel
atively in the combat echelon.
His is a modern ground force in
every sense of the term and
capable of comparison with that
iof any other nation.
@. S. How does your superior
Iity in naval and air force inf1u-
Ience the situation?
A. Our air and naval forces
furnish invaluable assistance.
But under present conditions
their potential is limited by the
fact that they cannot operate
against any element of the Chi
nese forces not Immediately sit
uated in North Korea. The Air
Force Is especially handicapped
as its main strength-strategic
bombing-is practically impos-
sible of application in the narrow
areas of North Korea. Similarly,
the great potential Of the Navy
cannot be exerted, as the supply
routes of the enemy from China
to Korea are overland.
Its bombardment capacity is
also narrowly limited to the
coastal borders and cannot reach
the main battle-ground. Under
these circumstances. the ground
forces are the predominant fac
tor. Our tactical air support is
noteworthy as supporting factor
but can only be regarded as an
auxiliary and not a decisive in
f1uence, which while of invaluable
help does not fill the gap against
overwhelming numbers.
Reverses Explained.
@. 6. To what do yCa attribute
o'lr recent reverses?
A. They are due entirely to the
overwhelming strength of the en-
emy who completely outnumbers
us on the ground.
@. 7. Could this have been
avoided? .-.
A. know of no way that this
could have been avoided under
the conditions which existed. The
risk was inherent in the United
Nations actions of June 27. No
nation or group of nations can
avoid the risks involved in launch
ing of aggressive warfare against
| it by another nation or group of
nations.
1t would be a grave mistake
to attribute to any incidents of
the campaign the momentous ac-
ton of launching war which has
been taken by the Chinese Army.
1t is quite manifest now that from
the beginning the decision was
taken and as a part of the on
slaught of the North Korean
forces in their attack on June Is
that they were assured of such
practical support as they are now
receiving.
The early successes of the North
Korean invasion into South Korea
obviated the necessity at that time
of the open support which is now
being furnished. AS soon as the
tide of battle began to turn, the
Chinese war machine started to be
geared for the Korean battlefront.
HIT Mrtturiaitt
LA CAvERA, AGOSTINO In sad but low
ing memory of our husband and father,
AUGOSTINO LA CAvERA. who passed
away two years ago today, December 2,