Evening star., 1951-04-06
hatArthur's S Letter
Gives New Challenge
On Conduct Of War
By Joseph A. Fox

political strategists today faced &
new challenge from Gen. Mac.
Arthur on the conduct of the
Korean campaign, as President
Truman conceded that the danger
of World War III erupting was
as great now as it has been any
time in the past four years.
The United Nations Commando
in the Far East, repeatedly in hot
water with the White House and
d. Pentagon because of his openly
expressed views which clash with
those of Washington, again moved
into the controversy with a letter
to Representative Martin of Mas
sachusetts indorsing the Repub.
lican House leaders demand that
the thousands of Chinese Nation
alist troops, immobilized in For
mosa under Generalissimo Chang
Kai-Shek. be used in action, as
Chang has urged, against Chinese
and Korean Communists.
Coincidentally, the same Mac
Arthur sentiments were reflected
in dispatches from Tokyo and
London.
From Tokyo, Russell Brines, As
sociated Press correspondent,
called attention anew to Gen.
MacArthur's statement of March
"a, declaring the Chinese Com
munists can be defeated by ex-
panding the war to include Allied
air attacks and Chinese Ma
tionalist amphibious assaults on
the Chinese mainland.
Policies Turned Down.
In London, the Daily Telegraph
said that Gen. Macarthur believes
the U. N. forces could defeat the
Chinese Communists if politicians
would take the wraps off" and
authorize his forces to do the
job.
The Macarthur policies have
been turned down consistently
here since the Korean war started,
and the United States moved its
7th Fleet off Formosa to neutral
ize the island where the Ma
tionalistS maintain their Govern
ment-in- exile.
The Macarthur letter to Rep
resentative Martin. disclosed yes
terday, was dated March 20, a
few days before reports circulated
here that the Far East command
er had been directed to get clear
ance here for any future pro-
nouncements with political signif-
icance. That rap on the knuckles
followed Gen. MacArthur's de-
mands on the Chinese Commu-
mist leaders to start talking peace
Or, as was implied-get ready
to face Stepped-up war.
Red Knockout Punch Expected.
The letter was made public, in
cidentally, as reports came from
the Pacific that the Reds planned
a knockout punch to drive the
U. N. forces out of Korea.
Shortly before it was circulated,
the President spoke of the pros
poets of war at news conference,
and commented only that House
Speaker Rayburn is truthful
man, when asked for his views on
the Speakers statement Wednes-
day that there is terrible" danger
of a third world war, and that
troops, mot all of them Chinese
Communists, are massing in Korea
and Manchuria.'
There was no comment from the
White House on Gen. MacArthur's
letter. But it was indicated there
has been no change in policy.
Today the Air Force reported a
"substantial' buildup of Red air
forces in Manchuria.
A spokesman who gave this in
formation at Pentagon briefing
declined to give his definition of
his term substantial buildup." P"
but he did say that the air arm
had nothing to substantiate" re-
ports of 5000 new enemy planes
moving into Manchuria as re-
ported in London dispatches yes
terday.
100000 Reds Move In.
At the same time the Army re-
ported that three Chinese Com
munist armies totaling 100000
men had moved into an area i'm
mediately behind the Korean
battle lines.
The Air Force statement was
the first to come out of the Penta-
gon which backed up a declaration
by Mr.. Rayburn on the floor that
there was massing of the enemy
in Korea and that not all of them
were Chinese Reds.
AS late as 3 pm. yesterday the
Air Force reported no particular
build-up in enemy air strength
and the same spokesman said then
that the number of enemy planes
which were appearing in Korean
skies varied greatly.