Evening star., 1953-04-24

The former Far East COM
mander broke a long silence to
Text Of Macarthur Letter to Senator
Byrd. Pooe A-l0
give Senator Byrd, Democrat, of
Virginia his viewpoint that the
big defect in the Korean con-
flict has been not an ammuni-
ton shortage, but the lack of
'the will to win"
The Virginia Senator is men,
ber of the subcommittee now in
vestigating charges of ammu-
milton shortages made by Gen.
James Van Fleet. retired 9th
Army commander. The Senator
asked Gen. Macarthur to COM
ment on the testimony thus far.
Cites Pace Testimony.
Senator Byrd invited reply
In particular to the testimony
of former Army Secretary Frank
Pace that both Gen. Mac
Arthur and Washington authori-
ties thought in the early stages
that the Korean war would
be over in 1850.
I'VE still possess the potential
TO destroy Red China's f1imsy in
dustrial base and sever her ten
uous supply line from the Sow
iet," wrote Gen. Macarthur.
"This would deny her the re-
sources to support modern war
and sustain large military forces
in the field. This in turn would
greatly weaken the Commu-
mist government of China and
threaten the Soviet'S present
hold upon Asia.
"A warming. of action of this
sort provides the leverage to in
duce the Soviet to bring the Ko-
rean struggle to an end without
further bloodshed."
Presidential Press Secretary
James C. Hagerty said the White
House would have no comment
on the Macarthur letter.
Might Settle Other Issues.
Gen. Macarthur ventured the
opinion that Russia would
"dread risking" a debacle in Red
China. land such hazard might
well settle the Korean war and
all other pending global issues
on equitable terms just as soon
as it realizes we have the will
and the means to bring them to
a prompt and definite determi-
nation"
Gen. Macarthur hinted darkly
that the Chinese Reds found out
in some manner that their bases
outside of Korea would not be
attacked and that this en-
couraged them to invade Korea
after his forces had routed the
North Koreans. The general
admitted that his own original
Judgment was that no Red
Chinese commander would risk
committing large forces to the
Korean peninsula in view of this
country's atomic air power
capable of destroying Red bases
north as well as south of the
Yalu River.
But by one process or another
It was conjectured by, or con-
veyed to, the Red Chinese that
even though they entered the
fray in large force it would be
under the sanctuary of being
relieved from any destructive
action Of our military forces
within their own areas" the
general added.
Point Left in Air.
He did not clear up the point
of whether he thought it was
conjecture or information that
prompted Red China's decision.
Gen. Macarthur recalled that
when the Chinese Communists
struck, his order to destroy
bridges at their points Of entry
over the Yalu river was immedi-
ately countermanded from WASH
ington."
He said he then realized for
the first time the decision which
had been made to deny him the
use of his full military power.
ITO me it clearly foreshadowed
the tragic situation which since
developed and left me with a
sense of shock -" the general
wrote.
Gen. Macarthur said an end
ing to the Korean conflict such
as he outlined would justify the
sacrifice Of those who have died
in Korea, would validate collec-
tive security and insure the re-
spect and faith of the peoples of
Asia.
He did not say there were no
ammunition shortages. On the
contrary, he recalled one stage OF
AN