Evening star., 1951-05-26
Collins Denies
NJ Arthur Asked
To Bomb China
Says Messages Hinted
Of Desire Without
Specific Request
By Cecil HolIond and
John A. Giles
BULLETIN

Gen. Collins testified today
that Il don't agree and did not
agree" with Gen. Macarthur
that it would not have been
possible to have stopped U. N.
forces short of the Yalu River
before the Chinese offensive
last November. He made the
comment in stating that Gen.
Macarthur rejected Joint
Chiefs suggestion to stop short
of the Yalu just as he did an
other policy proposal not to send
American forces to the boun-
Diary.
Gen. Collins, Army Chief of
Staff, told Congress today that
records did not show Gen. Mac
Arthur ever specifically requested
authority to bomb enemy targets
in China and Manchuria.
He added, however, that the
dismissed Far Eastern commander
raised the question last November
7 when he informed the Joint
Chiefs of Staff that restrictions
placed on United Nations opera
tions in Korea provided sanct-
uary for hostile forces"
Gen. Collins said the Joint
Chiefs studied the matter last No
vember and again in January
since lin all frankness and hon.
esty" it was considered that Gen.
IMacArthurs messages indicated
he thought "it ought to be done"
Each time, he said. the idea was
rejected by the Joint Chiefs.
The Army chief gave this testi-
mony as he began a second round
|of questioning by the Joint Sem
ate committee-Armed Services
and Foreign Relations-investi-
eating the Macarthur controversy.
Earlier Dispute Delayed.
The bombing question as we'll
Jas discussion of casualties in the
Korean fighting delayed for a time
additional testimony by Gen. Col
Inns on a sharply disputed point
Ihe brought up in his first appear
Iance before the committee yester-
lday. This was whether Gen. Mac.
Arthur ignored Joint Chiefs
policy decision in pushing Ameri-
can troops to the Yalu River on
the Manchurian border last fall.
Gen. Collins said the sending
of Americans to the Yalu disre-
garded instructions from the Joint
Chiefs. He also said Gen. Mac
Arthur rejected a Joint Chiefs
suggestion to halt all United Ma
tions forces miles south of the
Manchurian border. This was
Icontradicted in New York by Mai.
Gen. Courtney Whitney, Gen.
MacArthur's chief adviser.
The bombing of enemy bases in
Manchuria was one of the four
proposals made by Gen. MacAr-
thur in his address to Congress
for bringing the Korean war to
la victorious end. 1t has figured
prominently in the course of the
investigation since military leaders
here have insisted repeatedly that
1t carried a grave risk of bringing
Russia into the fighting in Ko-
rea and setting off World War III.
Macarthur Messages Cited.
Gen. Collins cited a series Of
messages from Gen. Macarthur
dealing with the bombing matter.
Dates of the messages were not
given.
In one, Gen. Collins said the
Far Eastern commander "inoicat-
ed that inviolability" of Manchu-
ria and Siberia had been "a car
dinal obligation of his command
from the beginning of hostilities."
Another message a short time
later, Gen. Collins added, said
that Gen. MacArthur's air power
operating within Korea, could pre-
vent reinforcements from coming
across the Yalu." Still another
message pointed out that Gen.
Macarthur had informed WASH
lngton that the rough terrain and
limitations placed on his opera
tions would reduce "the normal
benefits" of his superior air
strength.
When it seemed that U. N.
forces might be required to evac-
uate Korea in the face of the
Chinese onslaught, Gen. Collins
said the Far Eastern command
suggested that we could DESTROY
Chlnas industrial capacity"
through industrial bombardment
Subject Mentioned Frequently.
Still later" the Army chief
testified, Gen, Macarthur gave
an estimate that the enemy had
lost his chance for decisive action
In Korea, but still retained a
potential as long as enemy bases
N Manchuria remained immune
to air attack.
Ihus, the subject was one that
was frequently referred to the
Joint Chiefs of Staff by Gen
Macarthur. 1t is possible that
Gen. Macarthur considered those
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