:46:00
the navy's
consistent goal...
:46:03
has been to cut Japan's
line of communication.
:46:06
Now, as you know, the central
Pacific offensives...
:46:08
have taken under control the Gilbert, the Marshall,
and the Mariana Island groups.
:46:13
In our view, the sound strategy
for early victory...
:46:16
is to occupy the western Pacific
and seize Formosa,
:46:21
both to control
the Formosa Strait...
:46:23
and as a jumping-off point
against Japan.
:46:26
Now, this means bypassing...
:46:29
the main Philippine island
of Luzon...
:46:32
until Formosa is secured.
:46:34
After General MacArthur's
troops...
:46:37
have seized
the southern Philippines,
:46:39
the access of advance that
should get the highest priority...
:46:42
is the central Pacific offensive
toward Formosa.
:46:46
General MacArthur
could then move into Luzon...
:46:49
and recapture Manila after
my forces have taken Formosa.
:46:52
In fact,
with the fall of Japan,
:46:56
the liberation
of the northern Philippines,
:46:58
including Manila,
:47:00
will follow de facto, without
any need for force of arms.
:47:03
We therefore propose
to invade Formosa...
:47:06
at the earliest
opportunity.
:47:09
And my planners
are convinced...
:47:11
that a target date
of March 1, '45,
:47:14
is not unreasonable.
:47:18
Well, Douglas,
how does it sound to you?
:47:29
I'm a soldier, and I'll
hold the horse if so ordered.
:47:34
To bypass isolated islands
is one thing,
:47:38
but to leave
in your rear...
:47:40
250,000
Japanese troops...
:47:44
drawing their sustenance
from the Philippines,
:47:47
involves serious
and unnecessary risks.
:47:50
From Luzon,
I can clamp a blockade...
:47:53
on all supplies
from the south to Japan,
:47:56
thus forcing her
to an early capitulation.
:47:59
Therefore, I propose...