About ten days ago, President Truman met with General MacArthur on Wake Island. Truman was concerned that the United States could cause an even larger war with Russia or China. Truman ordered MacArthur to not send American troops the across Yalu River, the border of North Korea and China. Truman also disapproved of MacArthur’s statements that war with China would restore a pro-Western Chinese Government. If American troops crossed the border, chairman of the Communist party of China, Mao Zedong said that he “would not sitback with folded hands” (Marcus 66). Truman clearly was not willing to take any chances, but after the meeting, the General told me he is prepared to cross the Yalu River if need be.
Despite Truman’s orders, some of MacArthur’s divisions reached the Yalu River today. This was a clear mistake on the General’s part. Chinese troops were ready just as Zedong had warned Truman and it was said to be one of the bloodiest days in Korea so far. After fire fight, the American and Chinese divisions fell back. MacArthur came to the conclusion that the Chinese were willing to have a truce because the battle had been so gruesome. I knew MacArthur made a mistake when he decided to have troops advance on the Yalu River. He is becoming so impulsive during this war and it is going to cost him sooner or later. Although MacArthur made a mistake, thankfully the Chinese fell back just as we did or else we might be waging a war with China.
Image Caption: General MacArthur (left) and President Truman (right) shake hands after the Wake Island Conference. http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01758/truman-bush_1758055c.jpg
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