MacArthur Program

MacArthur Program

If in 1946 or after any hungry nation makes a grab for the 7,083 islands that will then be the free and independent Philippine Republic, she will find her hands full. Whipping through the water at 60 m. p. h. and spraying torpedoes right & left will be 100 tiny Philippine defense boats. Backing them up will be 250 airplanes. On land will wait a well-trained standing army, 400,000 trained reserves. If the greedy nation is in earnest, she will need 500,000 men, $10,000,000,000 and three years to swallow the islands up.

Such was the precise picture of Philippine national defense in 1946 envisioned last week by Major General Douglas Mac-Arthur, onetime U.S. Army Chief of Staff who eight months ago removed his suave and handsome personage to Manila as military adviser to President Manuel Quezon (TIME, Sept. 30). Obviously pleased with the picture, gallant "Doug" MacArthur added: "Personally, ten years hence, I would not want to lead any force in ... invasion."

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