Evening star., 1952-06-12
On BOMBING China

1t is hardly likely that any of his superiors
In this country will raise unyiedng objections to
General Mark Clarks assertion that Red China
should be bombed if the Communists cut loose
with their full air strength against our American
and allied United Nations forces in Korea After
all, in the event of such an attack, counteracton
along that line probably would be so imperative
that to object to it would be tantamount to
objecting to preventive measures against the
very real danger of a decisive u N. defeat-a
viewpoint that would do violence to common
sense and the fundamental law of self-preser-
walton.
The big fact that General Clark has had in
mind in making his statement-in Tokyo
interview with the United Press-is that the
North Korean and Chinese Communists now have
at their disposal an air force about twice the
size of the one they had year ago. This force,
most of which is based in the privileged sanctu-
ary" of Manchuria, is made up of almost 1000
combat planes, including bonlbers and 1000
Soviet-produced jet fighters. Practically speak
ing, these craft up to now have not played an
offensive role worthy of the name. However,
although they have been used only defensively
thus far, they have formidable attack poten-
tialities, and if they are employed in an al-out
assault in Korea, they can make the going
extremely tough for the U. N.
Clark has made the following hypothetical but
pointed observation: Cd If the Communists
launch new ground offensive but fail, as in the
past, to accompany it with major aerial attack,
air operations probably will be restricted
to Korea for the same reasons as before
namely, to prevent an enlargement of the war.
But (2) If they strike at full strength with their
fighters and bombers, there should be no holds
barred. We should retaliate as circumstances
dictate . If the restrictions were not lifted,
we would be at a serious Disadvantage" In other
words without mentioning any place by name,
the supreme U. N. commander has left no room
for doubt that if the enemy goes all out in the
sky, Red China-particularly the Manchurian
bases-ought to be subjected to as heavy a
counter bombing as the situation may require.
Thus, with a big and important eff"
attached, General Clark has Endorsed a course
advocated by General Macarthur without any
"ifs" It is course that is not likely to be
adopted as long as top American and U. N policy
makers feel impelled to try to keep the Korean
war from expanding into general ASiatic or
global confagration. But the story will be
grimly different if the enemy launches full-scale
and sustained aerial offensive. In that case, the
Manchurian sanctuary" will almost certainly be
bombed and other points in Red China may be
struck as well. Indeed, in his speech on the
Macarthur dismissal last year. President Truman
himself suggested as much with these words:
"The Communist rulers may press the attack
against us. They may take further action which
will spread the conflict. They have that choice,
and with it the awful responsibility for what may
follow"
General Clark in effect, has now issued the
same kind of warning. The North Korean and
Chinese Reds-and not least of all their mentors
in the Kremlin-once more have been put on
notice that if they unleash their air force for
major assault, they will be asking for massive
counteraction against key targets that have been
immune thus far This is not an empty bluff.
The United States and its Allies obviously must
do-and will do-whatever is necessary to stave
off defeat and disaster.