Evening star., 1951-04-24
Aide Says Macarthur
Still Doesn't Know
why He Was Fired
BY fhe Assoeiated Press

- ~~--~"
yesterday the general still does
not know why President Truman
stripped him of his commands.
| ITO this day. Gen. Macarthur
never has been informed as to the
reasons for his summary dismissal
and he hasn't the faintest idea
why the action was taken." Mai.
Gen. Courtney Whitney declared.
Gen. Whitney talked with news
men at the Waldorf Astoria Ho-
tel. where the MacArthurs are
staying in the lavish presidential
suite.
Wife Broke News.
Gen. Whitney said his chiefs
dismissal did not follow military
precedent. He reported that Mrs.
Macarthur, who had heard Of it
by radio, broke the news that he
had been relieved of his COM
mands 20 minutes before official
notification arrived from Wash
ington.
The news Of the generals dis
missal was announced in WASH
ington at l am. (EST) to coin
eide with the 3 pm. (Tokyo time)
lit was scheduled to reach Gen.
Macarthur.
Gen. Macarthur had no op-
portunity even to transfer his
command" Gen. Whitney de-
clared. He was dismissed the
moment he received the message
from the President. From that
moment he no longer exercised
authority. I think there is no
precedent in American history"
General Was Surprised.
Gen. Whitney spoke of the
generals surprise" at his dis
missal.
His surprise increased because
the general had not received one
single word from official Wash
ington as to his statement of
March 2 or his reply to Repre-
sentative Joseph Martins letter."
Gen. Whitney said.
Consequently, he had every
reason to believe that official
Washington was in no sense in
clined to deprecate or criticize his
action in writing Representative
Martin.
/ The President already had
stated that Gen. Macarthur was
free to say anything he wished
concerning the Korean War.
What Gen. Macarthur said on
March "a was cold and realistic
estimate of the military situation"
I'm the March "a statement,
Gen. Macarthur expressed read
mess to meet the enemy COM
mander in the field and warned
that if United Nations forces at
tackled Chinese bases and coastal
areas Red China would be faced
with "the risk of imminent mill
tary collapse
| Y Couldn't Address Troops.
| Replying to a newsman's ques-
tion whether the general had in
tended farewell address to the
troops before leaving Japan, Gen.
Whitney explained:
I asked him that before we left
| Tokyo. Gen. Macarthur said:
The President has deprived
me of that opportunity. I cannot
address them as their commander.
| The same situation applied to
the japanese people. Consequent
ly. he left in silence"
Gen. Macarthur has agreed to
review New York's loyalty parade
next Saturday afternoon.
About 100000 persons are ex-
pected to march down Fifth ave-
nue. past the reviewing stand at
Sixty seventh street.
The march, sponsored by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, was or
ganized in 1913 to offset the an
nual May Day Communists pa
rade.
While the general remained Sc
Icluded in his hotel suite yester-
day, his son Arthur, 13. went to
the circus at Madison Square
Garden.
Ate Cotton Candy.
| Arthur downed cotton candy,
pop corn. ice cream and soda pop
as he saw the Ringing Brothers
and Barnum & Bailey show for
the first time.
He was accompanied by Henry
Ringing North, vice president of
the circus. and a personal party
of three colonies. four policemen
and his Chinese nurse. Four
newsmen also went along.
Arthur was introduced to some
clowns and few of the animals,
including an orangutan that pulled
his hair.
Thursday morning the general
ieaves for Chicago and an official
welcome reception there. Mil
waukee will honor him Friday
1t was announced last night
that the MacArthur's will visit an
aunt Of Mrs. Macarthur at her
home in Murfreesboro, Tenn,
Monday on one-day round trip
by plane. The aunt, Mrs. Marie
B. Glenn. was in New York for
last weeks reception here.
The trim Mopdav will he IN tho