Re: Korean War Causes & US Involvement

[<Jhk789@aol.com>]

Ed,

I found a quotation of what Brg. Gen. Roberts, head of
KMAG, said about the number of S.Korean soldiers he
trained. He said this to an American reporter, Marguerite Higgins,
about a week before the outbreak of the Korean War:

      "KMAG is a living demonstration of how an intelligent
       and intensive investment of 500 combat-hardened American
       men & officers can train 100,000 guys to do the shooting for you."
       (Cumings, "Korea's Place in the Sun," p. 255)

Cumings also uses "KMAG in Peace & War"(p. 58) as his source
for stating that ROKA had 100,000 men by 8/1949.

In addition, according to the "Korean War Almanac," edited
by Col. Harry G. Sumers, Jr., "ROKA began the War with
115,000 men and eight....infantry divisions...."(P. 161)

According to Cumings, N.Korea attacked with only 38,000
soldiers, less than half of its forces on June 25, against
five ROKA divisions near Seoul or north of it, some 50,000 troops.
("Korea's Place in the Sun", p. 262) 

If the North was serious about attacking South first, I think the North 
probably needed more time to mobilize additional soldiers(at least 80,000) at 
the front.
Could it be Rhee provoked the war by attacking first, as the North charged, 
& then retreating deliberately?

John