Evening star., 1951-05-31

SldSR vi 4lOW w uSC SC01 @14 G1t0
land forces" than Gen. Mac
Arthur"
"If I may" Admiral Sherman
replied. "I would rather avoid the
comparison. I would say that he
was in the forefront among the
strategists with respect to the CO..
ordinated use Of land, sea and
air power"
Senator Cain noted that Admiral
Sherman. in his testimony yester-
day, had said he had proposed the
sending of an officer of comparable
rank to Tokyo in an effort to reach
an understanding with Gen. Mac
Arthur before the dismissal of the
Far Eastern commander was di-
rected by President Truman. He
wanted to know II this proposal
had been discussed at a meeting
on Sunday, April z, Of the Joint
Chiefs with Gen. Bradley and De-
tense Secretary Marshall.
Admiral Sherman said that
methods and procedures were not
discussed and the conversations
dealt with the basic problem Of
replacement. He testified yester-
day that he concurred in the re-
placement Of Gen. Macarthur.
Avoids Discussion Of British.
Senator Smith, Republican, Of
New Jersey. suggested that the
British, because they were con-
cerned about Hong Kong and
trade with Communist China, /"
raised principal opposition to dis
cussions of a United Nations ma
val blockade. He asked Admiral
Sherman if he felt that was a true
situation.
The admiral replied that he had
no direct association with that
problem"
Senator Smith - Were you
aware there were any other OF the
United Nations group who were
opposing the blockade or was it
primarily the British?
Admiral Sherman-Not that I
know of. sir. And, 1t is only more
recently since we have been able
to get the economic blockade the
control of exports in satisfactory
condition, that it becomes more
timely now to go ahead with the
next step.
As several Senators began
lengthy questioning about who
first suggested the possibility of
evacuating Korea last December, !,
Admiral Sherman commented
that there is mo particular credit
or discredit involved in the uues-
ton.
Certainly / believe that every
thinking military man who was
following the course of that cam
paign must have given some
thought to it," he declared.
Senator Smith brought up the
question.
Gloom Was Shared by All.
We'll, I think that a fair ex-
preston would be that during the
month of December the military
situation was such that both in
Tokyo and in Washington it was
apparent to all that the situation
was gloomy anG that considera-
ton had to be given to the pos
Slbility OF evacuation" the ad-
miral replied.
He added, however, that he
thought the possibility first came
TO his attention in a .communica-
ton from "our naval commander
who of course. was concerned with
questions Of shipping and readi-
ness. s'.--.s-
He said Gen. Macarthur sent
one dispatch on December q
which indicated to me certainly
there must be consideration given
to the probability of evacuation. "I
That message, he said, read:
Steady attrition leading to final
destruction could reasonably be
contemplated"
General Exchange of Thoughts.
But. he added, 'the correct an
swer to your question is that Gen.
did not specifically in
exact language raise the question
OF evacuation until later in De-
cember."
Senator Smith told the admiral
he thought the first specific men
ton OF evacuation came in a mes
sage December 20 from the Joint
Chiefs requesting comments from
Gen. Macarthur about that DOS
sibility. r.
Admiral Sherman then said
there was a general exchange of
thought during the entire month
Of December"
The admiral said a number of
messages from the Far East
which were factual, but did give
us a pretty gloomy picture" pre-
ceded the Joint Chiefs message,
which, think, for the first time
really raised the question of con-
ditions and circumstances :"
ReiterateS Stand on FOrmosa.
Under questioning by Senator
Saltonstall, Republican, of Mas
sachusetts, Admiral Sherman re-
iterated testimony given yester-
day that Formosa should net be
allowed ito pass into unfriendly
hands"
Senator Saltonstall said sugges-
tions have been made that Chi
neSe Nationalist troops on For