Show Marquis Childs Korea Repeat Possible In Formosa WASHINGTON ASHINGTON Another Korea can happen on the island of or Formosa An awareness of this is growing growing- in Washington Yet the coordinated steps have not been taken to prepare for it itIn In his initial statement on Korea Korea Korea Ko Ko- rea President Truman also announced announced announced an an- that he had ordered the American navy to prevent any attack on Formosa The Seventh Seventh Seventh Sev Sev- fleet is patrolling the waters waters wa wa- waters between the Ule Chinese mainland mainland main main- land and the island which is the thelast thelast last holdout of Chiang Kai shek and the remnants of oC his Nationalist Nationalist Nation Nation- alist armies But if the Chinese Communists decide to send a R full scale in invasion invasion invasion in- in force Corce against Formosa the Seventh fleet may not be beable beable beable able to stop all nil the invaders This likelihood is suggested sug both bolh by American newspaper correspondents correspondents correspondents corre corre- in Asia and by private private vate vale intelligence reports to the government here n In Invasion Craft Chicago Daily Dally News New Correspondent Correspondent Correspondent Corre Corre- Albert re reported reported re- re ported from Crom Hong Hong- Kong Kong- that invasion craft would be he used in the assault Some reports put the number of or planes in readiness for the invasion at others at These same reports both public public public pub pub- lic and private raise serious doubts as to the ability of or the Chinese Nationalists to repulse invaders who might get through the U. U S. S navy patrol There appears appears appears ap ap- pears more than a possibility of still another repetition of the story so often repeated on the Chinese mainland when Nationalist Nationalist Nation Nation- alist armies simply melted molted away before Communist attackers What is perhaps most disturbing disturbing disturbing dis dis- dis- dis is that responsible American officials seem to have no realistic appraisal of the situation on Formosa As in Korea Ko Ko- rca rea our diplomatic and our military military military mili mili- tary moves have not been sufficiently sufficiently sufficiently suf suf- coordinated Old Months Differences The differences between the State Slate and Defense departments over what to do about Formosa extend back many months They are complicated and it would probably be futile to review them at this point The fact remains however that on a vote ole of the national security council a decision decision decision de de- de- de was taken against ag sending sending sending send send- ing a team of American military experts to Formosa to appraise the military picture there With this in mind suppose that in an attempted assault some of the Communist invaders ers get through The battle on the island begins to go against the Nationalists No crystal ball gazing is required re required required re- re to envision what would happen at that point From such passionate advocates of Chiang shek Kai-shek as Senator Knowland of California and Representative Judd of Minnesota would come an immediate cry for more American help Can Foresee Claims Claim You can almost write these clarion calls in advance America America America Amer Amer- ica has made a commitment It Itis Itis Itis is vital to American prestige in Asia and to Americas America's strategic position to defend this last bas bas- tion Would the political pressure be such as to mean in fact another another an an- other othel Korea Would the demand to come to the defense of the Nationalists on Formosa be irresistible irresistible irresistible irre irre- Would this country commit some of its small remaining remaining remaining remain remain- ing reserve of or naval and air power Would American ground troops be sent in to fight alongside alongside alongside along along- side the Nationalists The sane answer in view of the very great need to keep back reserves of strength would seem to be No To commit another American force at this peripheral peripheral peripheral eral point Asia Asi would appear to leave Europe wide open to whatever whatever whatever what what- ever intention the reds may have on their current timetable That may well be one of the calculate calculate calculate late goals in both Korea and Formosa Sow Sobs Doubt DouM In A Asia ia Furthermore American Involvement in involvement involvement in- in alongside the Chinese Nationalists would sow doubt and and- division among those in Asia to whom we must look for both moral and physical support It would also sow doubt and division here at home This is especially lly true since neither the public nor congress would have had any preparation for what may happen As in the aftermath aftermath aftermath after after- math of oC the attack by the North Koreans there would be a underground of ot re resentment resentment resentment re- re between the State and Defense departments over the blame At the minimum we are entitled entitled entitled en en- titled to a n. realistic appraisal isal of ot the situation on Formosa This can come only through effective working coordination between the diplomatic and the military branches of the government That kind of coordination at the worl working ing level has been one of the elements clements lacking in recent months Copyright 1950 1050 United Feature Syndicate |