Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-08-06
General Reveals
Retirement Is
Set for Oct. 81
By John A. Giles

Gen. Mark Clark said today
the Communists in Korea
might" hold from 1000 to 5000
more American prisoners than
the 1916 they told truce nego-
tiatorS they have captured.
The Far East commander also
announced at a Pentagon news
conference that he had applied
for retirement, effective october
81, after more than 40 years
service and participation in both
World Wars.
Gen. Clark said information
received from returning sick and
wounded prisoners and from the
Communist radio indicate that
the Reds hold many more pris-
oners than the announced figures
shoW-"although we can't prove
1T"
He added that there were
"many thousands" of South Ko-
reans who have been unaccount-
ed for.
Protests Planned.
When information obtained
from the first POWs returned
and from the radio broadcaSts
indicated the Reds held addi-
tional prisoners, Gen. Clark said
he asked Washington whether
or not to proceed with the truce
negotiations.
It was decided, he said, to
continue the talks and reserve
the right to protest first at the
military armistice commission S
sessions and later at the politi-
cal conference.
The general said he told Wash
ington there was no way he
could demand or expect to get
accurate information as to pris-
oners short of force"
I'VE have done all we can do
without proof that they have
more prisoners than they said
they have" Gen. Clark declared.
Comments on Rhee.
Asked about the position of
Syngman Rhee. Gen. Clark said
the South Korean President had
fundamentally felt that the
truce was appeasement of COM
munism and that he knew of no
better place to oppose commu-
niSm than in South Korea"
That position, he added, was
Numerically opposed ito the po-
sitlon of my Government"
There was a complete diff
ference of opinion. and it was
sincere and genuine" Gen. Clark
said.
Mr.. Rhee has given his as
surances that he will not OBJ
struct the armistice and he is
cooperating at the present
time, and I expect him to con-
tinue."
The general said the morale
of American troops in Korea
would be a terrific problem in
the coming months. Parents of
the troops must realize, he
added, that their relatives would
not be home soon.
To "Train Hard, Play Hard"
The program to keep the
Eighth Army on its toes, he con-
tinued, includes an intensive
training program. At the same
time thousands of the veterans
will be taken out of Korea from
time to time for recreation in
Japan and Okinawa.
They will train hard and
play hard" Gen. Clark declared.
Anyone breaking the armiStice
would bring the condemnation of
the world upon him and might
find himself fighting whit no
holds barred" the general said
at another point. This was in
answer to a question as to
whether he would favor bombing
beyond the Yalu River should
hostilities reopen.
Asked if he would favor using
atomic weapons if the fighting
began again, Gen. Clark said:
IF the truce is broken, would
favor using any weapon at the
disposal of my country" He re-
fused to state whether there
were any atomic weapons in the
Far East at present.
Plans Report to U. N.
Gen. Clark said he would re-
port to the United Nations in
New York tomorrow and then
shortly leave for Tokyo. He said
he hoped that his successor
would be appointed by Septem-
Der 80, so that he could get
back in time to retire October 81.
After a short vacation, the
general said, he hoped to get
into some civilian pursuits. But
he said he had made no plans
on what I do or where I CO."
He refused to discuss the pos
sibility of accepting the presi-
dency of The Citadel, South
Cardinals military college at
Charleston.
Gen. Charles P. Summerall,
former Army Chief of Staff, re-
Gently retired as president of The
Citadel.