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GENERAL MACARTHUR.
Impressions of Famous Leader
An illuminating address on Gen
eral MacArthur and his personality
was given before the Press Sub
branch of the Returned Soldiers'
League yesterday by a member who
recently had been at GeneralHead
quarters. He gave his impressions of
the General and in the course of his
address said: "We waited for the
Commander-in-Chief of the South
Pacific war zone In a large unfur
nished room at what was the GHQ
In Collins-steet. There were over
100 newspaper men present, the few
extra being Australians, as the con
ference had been arranged primarily
for the benefit of the Americans.
Colonel Dller was the master of
ceremonies. He arranged the cor
respondents in a semi-circle pressed
well back from the entrance and he
exacted perfect silence, except when
questions were being asked, and no
note-taking.
"When all was set the General en
tered, walking quickly. He waved his
cigar, challenged an official short
hand writer who was' to take notes
(but couldn't) and said, I would
like to meet you all personally, but
it ?an't be done. Many I know al
ready.' General MacArthur is about
5ft 9in tall and he has no bulges.
His hair is thin on top, but there
are no signs of grey, which for a
man of 62 is unusual. He is tough
looking and in good physical shape,
yet his features are delicate and
his hands are almost feminine with
the slender fingers of a virtuoso or
a combination lock-breaker.
:Close observation showed that
his colour, especially on the cheek
bones, is naturally high. His jaw is
not prominent, but is firm, and his
eye is introspective. It would be
difficult to stare him out. General
MacArthur at once commenced to
pace up and down and to illustrate
his points by waving his cigar, which
explained why the party had been
pushed away to allow him elbow
room. After the first formalities he
became almost detached, and he gave
the impression of reciting a prepared,
soliloquy, and no doubt such an im
portant statement had been care
fulls arranged in advance. He held
his audience throughout; the inter
est never waned for a moment,
which is something to the credit of
a speaker whose audience had to
stand for over 2 hours almost with
out moving a muscle. He did not
try to be funny or to be clever.
"General MacArthur is reported
to be an exacting disciplinarian. His
ADO told me that in matters of
correct dress and procedure he would
make no allowances for anyone. This
was behind his insistence on having
an official directif before he would
exercise his full command over the
Navy, Army and Air Force in this
sector. He was well but not over
dressed, looking almost as though he
had been built into his uniform,
although his walk (and he must have
travelled many miles) rather im
plied that his shoes were too small.
He had 32 decorations on his tunic,
arranged in 11 rows, with the latest,
the Congressional Award for Courage
(earned in the Philippines) to crown
all. He did not wear a cap, but
when he does, with it pulled down
over his left eye in Admiral Beatty
fashion, he must look a dramatic
figure.
"After a long experience of dis
illusionment on seeing national her
oes in the flesh it was gratifying at
last to find one who measured up to
all requirements, sartorially and
photographically. He has a complete
command of language as one would
expect of a former director of West
Point. He never hesitated or fished
for a word and his sentences were
carefully rounded off, the whole of
them seeming to fit perfectly into
the vocal structure he was building
up. Some of the listeners accused
General MacArthur afterwards of
acting, but all effective speakers
must have the histrionic touch; it is
that very quality that makes them
orators, Lord Birkenhead to wit."
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