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In Washington, "a high Pentagon spokesman"—whether talking in line with Administration views or just through his hat—passed the word to newsmen that the armed forces brass thought Quemoy not worth a major U.S. involvement so close to the hostile mainland. Viewed through the eyes of a simple soldier as no more than a piece of real estate, perhaps it is not worth fighting for; the Communists don't make things that easy. So far, the Communists (for all their noise) have not yet committed themselves too deeply, but they were plainly anxious to find out at what specific, awkward point the U.S. begins to care deeply.