General Ridgway's Achievements
As the United Nations' advance towards the 38th Parallel continues against light and ineffective opposition, it becomes increasingly clear that General Ridgway's appointment to the command 'of the 8th Army marked a decisive turning-point in the Korean war. He took over a force in which morale was low and leadership at all levels indifferent ; this was partly due to an atmosphere of unreality induced by remote control of tactical policy from Tokyo. In a matter of weeks he has suc- ceeded in restoring self-confidence and a reasonable degree of aggressiveness which were notably lacking in most of the forma- tions under his command (the United States Marines and the British Commonwealth and other allied contingents were ex- ceptions), and he is now employing his immense superiority in fire-power to good effect against an enemy of whose armour and artillery virtually nothing has been seen in the forward areas for a long time. The military results are what might be expected. Meanwhile, the feeling grows in this country that the Government is paying scant attention to the needs of the British troops com- mitted to this exceedingly arduous campaign. The most im- portant requirement is for their embodiment in a Commonwealth division, with their own commander. The two brigades have fought admirably under American command, but both have had unhappy experiences ; and it is no secret that some of the other allied contingents—notably the Turks and the Greeks—would be glad to serve in a British-led division, whose commander could represent the interests of his troops at a suitable level.
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