Coast to Coast

Instead of withdrawing to Position Charlie--twin perimeters around Seoul and Pusan (TIME, Dec. 25)--Douglas MacArthur made a bolder decision: hold a line across the Korean peninsula, just below the 38th parallel. Since the line was about 150 miles long, it was not continuous but a series of strong points, with R.O.K. divisions apparently stationed on the right flank. In case of a cave-in on the right flank, the line could be pulled back around Seoul to form a semicircle with both flanks anchored on the Yellow Sea.

It was an appropriate time and setting for another MacArthur miracle, if he could perform it. Although some Pentagon observers disapproved the MacArthur coast-to-coast line as too risky, others --notably Marine Corps tacticians--approved MacArthur's decision.

The X Corps (one Marine, two Army and two R.O.K. divisions), which had been evacuated from Hungnam to Pusan and Pohang, was made a part of the Eighth Army. Thus, Lieut. General Matthew B. Ridgway, the Eighth Army's new commander, became MacArthur's overall ground commander in Korea. After a brief stop in Tokyo, Paratrooper Ridgway last week arrived in Korea to take over his command. Said he to his staff: "You will have my utmost. I expect yours." Said he to South Korea's Syngman Rhee: "I aim to stay."

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