Evening star., 1950-02-01
Macarthur Aides Ask
Joint Chiefs for More
Military Strength
By the Associated Press

TOKYO. Feb. 1.-Gen. MacAr-
thurs top commanders today
asked Americas Joint Chiefs of
Staff for more air, sea and land
strength to hold defense lines in
Itumultuous Asia.
Highly competent sources said
the need for additional power was
emphasized during an intensive
briefing on the military situation
in Gen. MacArthur's command.
They said the military situation
has deteriorated alarmingly.
Formosa and China were not
discussed, the informants said,
because they lie outside the area
of the basic military briefing.
The position of French Indo-
China - complicated by Russian
recognition of Ho Chi-minh's re-
Igime - was among the political
subjects weighing on the Ameri-
can military situation brought up.
Get Secret Outline of Plans.
Top commanders in all three
branches of the service gave the
Joint Chiefs a detailed and secret
outline of military plans and prep
arations for carrying out the two
fold American mission in Asia.
This is to man the Far Eastern
defense perimeter and to insure
wartime protection of Japan and
the Philippines.
The analysis of the military
situation and the outline of rec
commended reinforcements were
based on Gen. MacArthur's secret
report more than, year ago to
the Army Department, the infor-
mants said.
Gen. Macarthur then asked for
increased strength in all cate
gories. Since then commanders
say the military situation has de-
Perforated .alarmingly. American
IreinforcementS have been limited
1nformants said the visiting
military men demonstrated they
considered Asia as a part of the
Iglobal military picture and not a
separate or secondary area.
Back Order on H-Bomb.
A spokesman for Gen. Omar
Bradley said the Joint Chiefs of
Staff supported President Tru-
mans order to make the hydro
gen bomb.
Gen. Bradley's spokesman said
the chairman of the Joint Chiefs
hopes the H-bomb never will be
used in war. He said Gen. Brad
ley feels further development of
weapons may prevent war be-
cause even the winning nation
may find the price too great to
pay"
The spokesman refused to say
whether the four top American
military officers recommended
that President Truman give the
go-head signal.
Here with Gen. Bradley are
Army Gen. j. Lawton Collins, Air
Force Gen. Hoyt s. Vandenberg
and Admiral Forrest P. Sherman,
Chief of Naval Operations.
The spokesman said Gen. Brad
ley looks on the manufacture of
the H-bomb as another in the
civilization which has harnessed
electricity and produced the air
plane.
These developments have con-
tributed to civilization. And, the
spokesman said. Gen. Bradley
hopes the H-bomb may result in
benefits for mankind"
To Discuss China and Formosa.
Asked how the Joint Chiefs
feel about using the H-bomb If
war occurred, the spokesman said
their feelings would be condi-
toned on their duty as soldiers.
Gen. Bradley said on his arrival
last night that China and For
mosa would be among the subjects
discussed with Gen. Macarthur.
The Joint Chiefs will weigh
what Secretary of State Achesor
has called Americas "impreg-
nable" defense line running from
Japan through the Ryukyu Islands
to the Philippines. Formosa is in
this arc-between the Ryukyus
and the Philippines.
Political aspects of the troubled
Orient also are attracting in
creased American attention. w.
Walton Butterworth, Assistant
Secretary of State for Far Eastern
Affairs, is en- route from Wash
ington to Tokyo. Manila and
Bangkok, Thailand. He will talk
with Gen. Macarthur before at
tending meeting of American
diplomats at Bangkok in mid