Word: formosae
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...point that Pacific war veterans could elaborate upon. The Japanese bombers that destroyed the Navy and Air Forces in Manila, and the ground troops that held the Philippines until MacArthur's troops fought their way back, came from Formosa...
Highlights of MacArthur's statement on Formosa...
...view of misconceptions currently being voiced concerning the relationship of Formosa to our strategic potential in the Pacific, I believe it in the public interest to avail myself of this opportunity to state my views thereon ... Prior [to the past war] the Western strategic frontier of the U.S. lay on the littoral line of the Americas, with an exposed island salient extending out through Hawaii, Midway and Guam to the Philippines. That salient was not an outpost of strength, but an avenue of weakness along which the enemy could and did attack...
...Critical Salient. "The geographic location of Formosa is such that, in the hands of a power unfriendly to the U.S., it constitutes an enemy salient in the very center of this defensive perimeter, 100 to 150 miles closer to the adjacent friendly segments-Okinawa and the Philippines-than any point in continental Asia. An enemy force utilizing installations currently available could increase by 100% the air effort which could be directed against Okinawa, as compared to operations based on the mainland, and at the same time could direct damaging air attacks with fighter-type aircraft against friendly installations...
...Utilization of Formosa by a military power hostile to the U.S. may either counterbalance or overshadow the strategic importance of the central and southern flank of the U.S. frontline positions. Formosa in the hands of such a hostile power could be com pared to an unsinkable aircraft carrier and submarine tender, ideally located to accomplish offensive strategy, and at the same time checkmate defensive or counteroffensive operations by friendly forces based on Okinawa and the Philippines...