134 - Crap Tactics in the Pacific - Shall MacArthur Return? - WW2 - March 20, 1942

by Panzer
They’re gonna fight the Germans with what?
Balloons?
Like… party balloons?
Oh, okay, different balloons...
And it’s gonna be explosive… and electrifying?
I don’t get it.
March 20, 1942 In American history, it’s one of the most
iconic of phrases, and even more so for World War Two, and it is in this week of the war,
that Douglas MacArthur declares, “I shall return!”
I’m Indy Neidell; this is World War Two.
Last week on Java, the Dutch surrendered the East Indies to the Japanese.
Rangoon, the Burmese capital also fell, and with it the Burma Road, the only land route
left to supply Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese Nationalist Army.
American Commander Douglas MacArthur left the Philippines and was en route to Australia
as the week ended.
He arrives the 17th.
Here’s an interesting quote about that from Richard Frank, make of it what you will: “When
MacArthur eyes the worn B-17s and fresh faced crews sent to transport him to Australia he
blew up, demanding better planes..
During this wait he finalized his concept of Philippine command, dividing forces four
ways, all under his continued control.
Wainwright would lead only the forces on Bataan and Corregidor, likely because of doubts about
his well-known alcoholism.
Once a better set of planes arrived, MacArthur flew out March 17th.”
Arriving in Darwin, he and his family fly further to Alice Springs, at the center of
the continent.
He then boards a train to Adelaide and a station tells reporters that he was ordered to Australia
by the president “for the purpose as I understand it, of organizing the American offensive against
Japan, a primary objective of which is the relief of the Philippines.
I came through and I shall return.”
He will end his journey when he reaches Melbourne next week.
As for his handling of Philippine command since the Japanese invasion began in December.
Yep, it’s quote week:
“MacArthur’s learning curve in this first venture in high command was steep, costly,
and controversial…
MacArthur carried ultimate responsibility for the debacle of the comprehensively inept
performance of the FEAF, but both Washington and Bereton contributed heavily toward this disaster.
MacArthur’s operational handling of his forces likewise reflected significant mistakes,
notably the ill-judged arrangements of forces to defend Lingayen Gulf, the premature abandonment