davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-05-06
Partial Transcript Gen. Mu Third Day

lof the North Korean war. We
expected to close that war out
very definitely, and when the wal
was closed out we anticipated thai
the majority of the occupation
forces in Japan would be returned
to Japan. -.
Senator Johnson-General, while
we are on that Wake Island con.
ference I want to read a question
on Page Three, a statement, Secre-
tary Pace says:
els there anything in terms OF
IECA and Army cooperation that
we might do to help you?"
Gen. Macarthur is reported as
Saying:
mo commander in the history
of war has ever had more COM
|plete and adequate support from
all agencies in Washington than
I have" .
Is that a correct statement?
Gen. MacArthur-I am very
glad to have the opportunity to
reaffirm that. Up to that time it
Was certainly so
Evening star., 1951-05-06
Macarthur Calls War Suicide
Urges Steps for Its Abolition

Gen. Macarthur gave a soldiers
solution for the worlds problems
yesterday-"the abolition Of war
"It would take long decades, OF
course, before that could be ac-
complished." Gen Macarthur said
but you have to make a start
There is no halfway substitute"
A soldier for 50 of his II years,
Gen. Macarthur said war has be-
come "the method of suicide for
modern civilization"
He told the Senate committees
investigating his dismissal as the
Far Eastern Commander that steps
should be undertaken through the
United Nations to establish "the
mechanics" for outlawing war.
Efforts should be made to get
nations to accept the idea, the
general said, and have their legis-
lative bodies debate it "and see
who are the people that stand out
against it"
:. 4 or 5 Nations Necessary.
Gen. Macarthur said he realized
no one nation could act alone and
added: ~
IF four or five nations shoul.
do it. it would be impossible fol
anyone else to violate it"
His statement was prompted by
Senator MacMahon. Democrat. oi
Connecticut, asking If he had "any
hope for use in finding formula
to settle the whole matter"
The general related the circum-
stances of how Japan, knowing
more than any other people what
atomic warfare means, wrote into
Evening star., 1951-05-06
Next Wars First
Blow Decisive

Gen. MacArthur-You know the
acuteness of modern war is in
creasing very wildly. 1t took a
long time in the old days before
the war machines really began to
roll. But with the integration of
the world, increase in scientific
methods of destruction, the blow
falls much quicker; that is. you
don't get the time now to prepare
that you had in the past.
The first blow in the next war
may well be a decisive blow. The
first blows or the potency of the
first blows-and that first blow.
You understand, there is no
method by which you can avoid
the surprise attack of an enemy
these days. He hits and then he
announces, or he hits and he
doesn't announce. And if you are
not ready at that time you might
well be overwhelmed before many
factors which I won't attempt to
go into, gave you a certain period
of time in which you could build
up to meet the attack. But with
every passing year that diminishes.
Therefore, the corollary is with
every passing year, as long as you
have a maverick running loose in
the world, it means that your
necessity for preparedness in
creases unless you can find the
formula to settle the whole mat
ter.
Senator Johnson I want
to ask you this question, general
Assume we embrace your program
and suppose that the Chinese were
) chased back across the Yalu River
and suppose they refuse to sign a
treaty and to enter into an agree
ment on what their future actions
!, will be, what course would yor
recommend at that stage?
Gen. MacArthur-Such a con.
tingency is a very Hypothetical
t query. I can't quite see the posi-.
bility of the enemy being driver
back across the Yalu and still
i being in a posture of offensive
e faction.
e I don't believe that the hy
Evening star., 1951-05-06
Red Casualty Rate
Extremely Hioh

Inc battle casualties OF the
South Korean troops were ap-
preaching 100000, as I recall. The
battle casualties of the other Allies
were practically negligible, per-
haps two or three thousand.
I should estimate that the en-
emy's battle casualties, including
the 100000 to 145,000 prisoners
that We held. would probably be
close to three times that.
/ I should therefore estimate that
the total battle casualties, which
does not. of course, include civil
casualties. would approximate a
million men. The civil casualties
were horrible beyond conception.
I wouldn't be able to estimate
them, but the probabilities are
that they were more than the
military casualties.
Red Casualties High.
Senator Mcmahon - General,
certainly the rate of casualties has
been. thank God. tremendously
disproportionate. We seem to be
imposing about what, would you
say, six or seven to one?
Gen. MacArfthur-I should say
that the ultimate casualties in
f1icted on the enemy would be in
about the ratio of three to one. E.
Senator McMahon-The total
casualties of the North Koreans
and the Chinese are approx
mately-
Gen. MacArthur-The total cas-
ualties, I would estimate. were
about three-quarters of million.
Senator McMahon-Three quar-
ters of a million. OF those, there
are about 100000 prisoners, you
say?
Gen. MacArthur-140,O 900 pris-
oners.
Senator Mcmahon - Do you
think, general, that we are en-
gaging the military might of the
Chinese at this time in Korea?
Gen. MacArthur-I believe that
the Chinese nation, the Red ma
ton, is bringing to bear upon the
campaign in Korea every possible
facility it can amass. If we
believe the reports that circulate
from the Chinese press. they have
entered upon not only a con-
scription program but violent
conscription program. They are
seizing men every place they can
get them to muster into the serv-
lice. ,....
The complaints that you see, and
gather IN certain sections of the
Chinese press against the violent
methods are increasing.
I believe that they are using
every ounce of power to achieve
victory in Korea. and that their
aim in Korea is the complete de-
struction of the United Nations
forces there, and that they intend
to occupy and administer and gov
Iern, if they are successful, every
inch Of Korean territory.
That program has been repeat
edly enunciated by their respon-
sible heads; it has never varied.
Senator Mcmahon. Do you
think there is any risk. general, if
We push the Chinese and the
North Koreans back that Russia
will come into the war if it is con-
fined to Korea?
i Gen. MacArthur-She has not
Evening star., 1951-05-06
Main u. S. Enemy
is Communism

Senator Mcmahon - General,
you stated yesterday that COM
munism is our enemy all over the
world. Where is most of the mill
tary power located that is held by
communism?
Gen. Observation-Disclosures
ably in Soviet Russia.
Senator Northumberland. /
was very much interested in your
statement in answer to Senator
johnson when you said-and /
have had it typed:
"You know the acuteness of
modern war is increasing very
wildly. 1t took long time in
the old days before the war ma
chimes really began to roll. But
with the integration of the world.
increase in scientific methods of
destruction, the blow falls much
quicker: that is. you don't get the
time now to prepare that you had
in the past. The first blow in the
next war may well be the decisive
blow. The first blows or the DO
tency of the first blows-and that
first blow. you understand, there
is no method by which you can
avoid the surprise attack of an
enemy these days. He hits and
then he announces, or he hits and
he don't (sic) announce. And if
you are not ready at that time
you might well be overwhelmed
before many factors, which I
won't attempt to go into, gave
you certain period of time in
which you could build up to meet
the attack. But with every pass
ing year that diminishes. There
fore, the corollary is with every
passing year. as long as you have
a maverick running loose in the
world, 1t means that your neces-
sity for preparedness increases un-
less you can find the formula to
settle the whole matter"
If we adopted your plan for
China, and if that plan resulted
in a pacification of China and Ko-
rea, the military force that is pos
sessed by communism would still
be the maverick that would be
loose in the world. Is
that not correct, general?
Senator MacArthur-Yes.
Senator McMahon-You recog-
nize in this statement the neces-
sity for a preparedness to with
stand a surprise blow. I ask you,
general, are we now prepared to
withstand that surprise blow?
Evening star., 1951-05-06
Universal Training
Views Are Given

Senator johnson - And the
Joint Chiefs plan at present as
sumes that they get the legisla-
ton that they need for a total
armed force of 1852, 1000.
Now, as I understand it, it is
your opinion that of that 3,462,-
600, in order to carry out your
program, it would not be necessary
to substantially increase your
ground forces.
On the other hand, you feel
that it would be necessary to make
additions to our sea power and
to our air power, but in that
event that would not involve
substantial increases of our armed
personnel in that field.
Gen. MacArthur-That is ex-
actly correct, Senator.
Senator Johnson-Now, general,
I realize that you do not want to
get into this sphere of specific
legislation, but this Armed Serv-
ices Committee is in it right now,
and as a man who has commanded
probably more of our armed forces
than any other individual, it
seems to me that you could COM
ment with propriety upon a broad
principle.
Since we are living now, and
will continue to live for years to
come, in a world of uncertainties,
I wonder if you do not think that
some system of universal training
which would guarantee that all of
our young men would be made
available for service, and they
would be trained young men,
should be invoked so that when
the Nation was threatened we
would be prepared?
Gen. Macarthur AS I said
Senator, I am for preparedness
and the maximum preparedness
and the maximum utilization Of
all of our resources.
Now, whether universal mill.
tary training accompllSheS thai
fact would have to be pretty care.
fully considered by me.
There are other demands upor
our manpower. Whether the tota
effort to train these great masse
of millions of men, whether il
actual combat those men woult
go into the inches for which the.
have been trained, I don't know
I have not studied the bill,
have not studied the potential
ties of it. =. am for the utiliza
ton of the total manpower tina
we have.
But whether the program o
universal military training a
youths along practically the sam
line, which I understand is tn
Evening star., 1951-05-06
Must Win War
Or Be Doomed

! Senator Mcmahon Gen
eral, it has been announced that
the atomic weapons of today are
of much greater potency than
those that were exploded at Hiro-
Shima. We can anticipate in the
event Of an atomic attack on this
country, therefore, if Gen. Van
denberg is correct when he says
that 30 per cent of the attacking
forces of the enemy bombers
might be shot down or DETECTED
from their targets. meaning that
10 per cent would get through,
that we would have terrific cas-
ualities and terrible damage.
BY your own statement, which
I nave read to you you have
stated that if the enemy hits by
surprise that that may well be the
decisive blow.
You have stated, in answer to
my questions, that you cannot,
because you have no intelligence
on the subject, tell us that Soviet
Russia will not enter this war if
we enlarge it to the mainland of
China.
You have stated. general, that
if we are not ready, we may be
overwhelmed because we would
not have the period in which we
could build up the attack.
Now, in view of all that, Cen
eral, don't you think it would be
the part of wisdom to get our
selves into that kind of situa-
ton where we can avoid this final
decisive blow before we take
the chance of precipitating this
struggle.
Gen. MacArthur.-I believe this,
Senator: That the initiatory ac-
ton of your potential enemy is
already under way. I believe if
Evening star., 1951-05-06

protect these potential production
'centers is of extreme Importance.
Gen. MacArthur-I should say
so.
Senator McMahon-And, there
fore, any course Of action which
might precipitate now that kind
Iof a blow must be weighed with
the greatest care.
Gen. MacArthur-Correct.
Senator McMahon-Have you
taken those circumstances into
consideration when you now rec
ommend that we proceed on a
course which may bring the Soviet
Union into this conflict?
Gen. MacArthur-Complete. ]
believe that if you do not settle
successfully what you have started
and are committed to in Korea,
you will tend to incite him to in
crease not only the tempo of his
blow but the time of his blow.
1 believe that the program
have suggested will tend to not
precipitate a world war, but to
prevent it.
l don't believe there is anything
that you could do that would &C
celerate the tempo OF possible war
with the Soviet than to show
weakness in the Far East today.
Senator Mcmahon - General,
how many casualties have you had
in Korea?
Gen. MacArthur-The casual
ties in Korea when left, the
American casualties, the battle
casualties, don't count the dis
ease casualties and other things,
but the battle casualties of the
American troops were approaching
65 600.
Evening star., 1951-05-06

point considered. whether that
will reduce and produce (SIC) the
greatest military effectiveness, l
would not attempt to say until I
had studied the problem very.
very thoroughly.
Importance of Industry.
I believe the greatest possible
consideration has got to be given
to the demands of industry. I
believe that if you are going to
prepare the youth, that you have
got to understand that modern
warfare has as its basis industry
I should advise most seriously, if
I were considering the problem,
that I would wait and get through
with the emergency that faces us
now. and then on what has re-
suited and what exists then. I
would sum up the facts. and make
my decision.
If universal military training is
the best way to do it. I would
unheSitatingly advocate it.
Senator Johnson-General, dc
you have any recollection Of ever
having recommended or advocated
universal training of our young
men?
Gen. MacArthur-Oh. yes. I not
only many years ago when I went
to the Philippines requested the
Philippine government to try to
organize it for the blow that was
manifestly certain to come, but
the first thing did was to intro
duce universal military service as
far as I was able to accomplish it.
Senator Johnson-I mean, as it
applied to this Nation.
Gen. Macarthur am quite
sure that Is years ago had we
had universal military service, the
whole situation would have been
different.
1t is my belief that had we been
prepared before either of these
world wars, there was a very ex-
Icellent chance that they would
not have taken place.
The only thing I address myself
to, any doubts that would have,
is as to the efficacy on the mill
tary potential that the country
could produce.
Senator Johnson-General, you
have had a rather unique expe-
rience, horrible as it has been, in
the early days of World War II
and the II or 10 months of the
Korean experience, of having to
take on savage enemies almost
barehanded, and I know of no
man alive who can more touch
ingly and effectively make the
Congress or the country aware of
the price we paid for deficiencies
in the early stages of both of
these conflicts. I hope as you go
about the country talking to our
citizens and presenting them with
a positive program, that you will
do what you can to contribute to
their awarness of the deficiencies
that now exist that will not permit
this Nation to supply its COM
mander with the men and the ma
terial they needed in the face of
a horrible invasion.
Evening star., 1951-05-06

that you thought your program
would require.
/ Gen. MacArthur-It is quite
Impossible, Senator. It depends
upon what the enemy has. Yo,
can not make a unilateral deci.
sion. You have got to have enough
force to defeat him; and if h
brings in more force, if you fixec
an inf1exible figure, why. yol
would just be silly.
Senator Johnson-Well, general
we have to estimate the number
of men required if we embrace
these programs. and we not only
have to estimate them, we have tt
be able to supply them. Anc
when you present a positive pro-
gram, such as you have presented
lit is going to be our Responsibilities
to be sure that we have the units
and the forces required to carry
lit out. Now, if that is going tt
involve
Gen. MacArthur-I am quite
sure, Senator-I repeat-I an
quite sure that the program yor
just enunciated, of the approx.
mately 312 million men in the
armed forces, can accomplish any.
thing that I would have in mino
without prejudice to other oper-
ations.
Senator Johnson-And that
statement is based on a rather
general knowledge of our commit
|ments in other parts of the
globe?
Gen. MacArthur-Correct. And
the additional fact that the major
part OF the commitments of pre-
paredneSS in the other parts OF
the world are fixed at about two
years hence. So that the troops
that are being trained in that
two years could be used in the
Far East without the slightest
detriment to anything else; so
that, in effect. you could get a
much greater proportion of tile
whole in the period of the next
two years for use in the Far
East than perhaps would be ac-
tually necessary to accomplish nv
plans. Without prejudice to any
program for the defense of Eu-
rope or of the Mediterranean. or
any place else, or of the conti-
mental United States.
Senator Johnson-That NAV ne
-cessitate rather radical revision of
our plans.s Our present strength
is 3 million. We hope to reach
SE2. roughly, as quickly as we can,
and our target date is July of
this year. Now, I gather that your
Far Eastern program. in your
Judgment, could be met and all
the needs supplied without in
frlnging in any way on any other
commitments we have in any other
parts OF the globe. and 1 would
like for the record to show that if
I am correct.
Gen. MacArthur-I believe that
the program is quite comprehen-
slve enough to meet the needs in
the Far East without any preju-
dice to other areas.
Senator Johnson-And without
any increase in the present
strength set by the Joint Chiefs
OF Staff, three million four?
Gen. MacArthur-Yes, believe
that the three million and a half
strength would encompass that.
Evening star., 1951-05-06

pothesis you draw is quite a
reasonable and a rational one. If
he ceases his depredations across
the Yalu, the main purpose that
we have is accomplished.
Senator Johnson-Some of the
experiences we have had, they
dash back, we dash up to them
and they come back and so forth.
Now suppose we inaugurate
this program that you have ad-
vocated and suppose it has the
elements of success that you en-
viSage. They go back across there,
they still retain large mass forma-
tions there. what course are we
going to have to take?
Gen. MacArthur-I don't think
they could.
Senator JohnSon-Are we going
to have to keep a large number
OF men there to protect our
position?
Would Be Subject to Attack.
Gen. MacArthur-Of course my
program would prevent his having
a great accumulation of force
close to the border of Korea.
When you have cleared Korea,
what the situation would be to
secure it for the future I wouldn' t
attempt to settle at this time. 1t
would depend upon the factors
that have been produced by our
successful campaign.
I can't visualize an enemy who
had been cleared of Korea staying
in a state of belligerency. I be-
Ilieve he would fight to hold his
line along the Yalu until he was
convinced that he could not do so.
Now If he were so convinced, I
believe that a rational treaty
could be drawn up with him at
that time if we were so successful
as that. his entire country would
be in jeopardy.
He would be subject to attack
which might not only overturn
the government in existence but
might threaten the very security
OF Segments of China. And that
he would so recklessly defy the
Irealisms by not accepting the de-
feat which would be entailed by
his being forced to stop his ag-
gressive action in Korea doesn't t
seem to me to be reasonable.
Senator Johnson-You think it
is unlikely that if your program
was carried into effect and we
were victorious, that we would be
required to retain anything like
the manpower that we have in
Korea at this time.
Gen. MacArthur-I should GER
tainly hope not, sir.
Senator Johnson-I got that
impression of your position from
this purported substance of state
mentS made at Wake Island, and
here is what gave me that i'm
preston. and I would like to ask
about it. It appears on Page 6 of
the committee print:
Gen. Bradley-The 9th Army
is returning to Japan soon. We
have the problem of getting addi-
tional troops to Europe" Of
course, we have that problem in
front of us at the moment. "As it
now stands it will be April before
we can get a division into Eu-
rope. Could the I'd or Sd Division
be made available to be sent over
to Europe by January?
Gen. MacArthur-Quoted as
saying-"Yes, I will make one
available by January. l would
recommend that the I'd Division
be selected. as it is a veteran divi-
sion, better trained, and would
make better impression.
Do you recall any such ex-
change, general?
Gen. MacArthur-Yes, that is
practically my recollection of it.
You must understand, Senator,
that that was made on the basis
Evening star., 1951-05-06
come into the war yet.

come into the war yet.
Senator Mcmahon - General
did you ever in the course of youl
administration of Japan have oc.
casion to go to Hiroshima or Ma
gaSaki?
Gen. MacArthur-I have flowr
over both places numbers of times
Senator Mcmahon - And, nc
doubt, general, you are familiar
with the casualties that were suf-
fered in those two places?
Gen. MacArthur-I am quite IA
miliar. >. the slaughter was hor
rible at both places.