Word: formosae
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Already the Communists had paid for their attack on Korea; when Truman said "I have ordered the Seventh Fleet" to Formosa, he denied Communism a rich strategic prize that had been in its grasp. The fact that Douglas MacArthur, who has long understood the Communist intentions in Asia, was defending Korea meant that the Reds would not get that country cheaply...
...State Dean Acheson's elegant top hat. The Communist attack in Korea might well not have taken place, argued Taft, if the U.S. had given the South Koreans proper aid, and he thought Acheson "had better resign." Wherry loudly agreed. Now that the U.S. had decided to protect Formosa, as he had urged, said Taft, he felt vindicated. But Taft said nothing about Senate votes last September and again in May, to authorize multimillion-dollar aid to Korea. Among those who had voted against the bill, both times: Kenneth Wherry and Robert A. Taft...
...Defense Department had answered with a flat "no" the general's request for more troops to buttress Japan, which MacArthur regarded as the only firm anchor of the U.S. position in Asia. Last January the State Department had overruled MacArthur's urgent proposal that Formosa be defended. He had warned Washington that Communist capture of Formosa would break the defense line Japan-Okinawa-Formosa-Philippines and drive the U.S. back to the line Alaska-Hawaii...
...Nationalists abandoned their naval base on Chusan Island, 100 miles from Shanghai, Hong Kong was sure that the Nationalists could not keep up their blockade. The Nationalists vowed that they would. When Hong Kong traders laughed off warnings, sent their ships to Shanghai anyway, the Nationalists threw their Formosa-based air force into the fight...
...merchants gave up, for the time being stopped further shipments to Red ports. The Nationalists' score: three ships sunk, two ships damaged, one ship captured. The casualties included vessels flying the British, Panamanian, Norwegian and Greek flags. By week's end more mines sighted in the Formosa straits caused the Communists to close the port of Shanghai to all shipping...