Unruly: MacArthur

Author: Fu Yannan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: World War II was the largest conflict in human history. In this war, fought between the Fascist Axis powers and the Allied forces, the scale of troops and weaponry deployed, the vast scope of the battlefields, the novelty of combat tactics, the magnitude of losses, and the depth of its impact were unprecedented. Although nearly 50 years have passed since the end of the war, with times changing and circumstances evolving, it still captivates numerous military strategists and historians from China and abroad with its grandeur, profound meaning, and rich heritage, drawing them into exploration and writing. World War II provided countless soldiers with opportunities to showcase their talents and demonstrate their abilities, giving rise to a generation of outstanding commanders. Among the Allied forces, a group of brilliant generals with remarkable achievements emerged, their names etched in history for their glorious deeds. The "Illustrated Series on International Figures of World War II" consists of 15 volumes, featuring 15 prominent figures, covering the key representatives of both the Axis and Allied powers in politics and military affairs during World War II. These include books written by the popular international affairs expert and best-selling author Xie Lifu on the "Three of World War II" and the "Three of World War II," as well as those compiled by other military historians on famous generals of World War II.
In the first half of 1944, as MacArthur controlled New Guinea, Nimitz seized the Marianas, and Montbatten advanced into Indochina, Japan in Southeast Asia found itself surrounded on three sides. The time for defeating the Japanese seemed to have arrived. According to the decision of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in March, the next step for MacArthur and Nimitz would be to attack the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. However, with the war looking favorable, the Joint Chiefs began considering the possibility of accelerating the Pacific War. Admiral King advocated bypassing the Philippines and directly attacking Taiwan. Nimitz agreed with this plan, but MacArthur strongly opposed it. He believed that the Filipinos had fought alongside the Americans against Japan and that now bypassing the Philippines would leave loyal Filipinos to suffer further. Moreover, failing to rescue captured soldiers and American civilians in the Philippines would lead to a political mistake. MacArthur vigorously argued for capturing the Philippines before Taiwan and opposed any plan to abandon any Philippine island, determined to liberate the entire archipelago.
The parties remained deadlocked until the Commander-in-Chief of the three branches, Roosevelt, had to resolve the. At this point, the presidential candidate-elect also realized that whether to bypass the Philippines was not just a military strategy issue but also a political one, affecting his re-election. If he decided to bypass the Philippines, he would be labeled as abandoning old friends, potentially causing political damage in the upcoming election. Additionally, as a hero universally respected and a figure of great prominence, he could not afford to ignore MacArthur seriously, fearing the formidable general might indeed bring him trouble. Therefore, he decided to meet the general not in Washington but in person at Pearl Harbor.
On July 21, Roosevelt departed San Diego aboard the battleship "Baltimore." On July 26, he arrived in Pearl Harbor. Over the course of two days, MacArthur detailed his political and military considerations for prioritizing the Philippines. In the end, he not only convinced the president but also convinced Nimitz, who agreed to provide the necessary transportation and support. Throughout the discussions, both sides maintained a friendly attitude. MacArthur assured Roosevelt that the between him and Nimitz had been resolved: "Mr. President, we are in complete agreement, and we fully understand each other." That night, MacArthur returned to Brisbane aboard the battleship "Bataan." On the plane, he happily told his aides, "We have won." Upon returning to Brisbane, he announced to his staff, "The president has accepted my proposal and approved the Philippine operation plan." P111