Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-20
Plane Attack Likened
To Firing on Ponoy
u. S. Did More Than Send Notes
of Protest Then
BY Dapid laurence

ny AOpTu LUICyGUCf
Tension increases rather than dimin-
ishes throughout the world. Peace has
been made in practical sense with for
mer enemy countries-Germany, italy
and Japan-but peace has not been
made between the Allies
Thus, Yugoslavia is supposed to be q
country friendly to the United States
but her airmen fire on American planes.
Time was when the United States did
more than send notes of protest when
the flag of this country was fired upon
When Japan fired on the U. S. S. Panay
in 1887, demands for reparation and
apology were made.
The American Ambassador to Bel
grade. Richard C. Patterson describes
the attack on our airpiane as wicked,
inexcusable and deliberate" This is
strong language and, in the face of
1t. the American Government cannot
afford to let the incident pass with
single protest.
Maybe our Government Is doing more
about the situation in the whole Medi-
terranean area than appears on the
surface. portion of the American
fleet has been sent from the Atlantic,
presumably on goodwill cruise
through Mediterranean waters. But the
task force might also have been sent
to indicate that the United States is not
disposed to withdraw from Europe.
Instructions From Moscow?
Yugoslavia is Russias ally. When Yu-
gosiavla acts up, it is assumed here that
her puppet government has received
instructions from somewhere in the
vicinity of Moscow. More Incidents
fiouting the United States may be ex-
pected in Europe. 1t is one way the
Russian bloc may have devised to irri-
tate the United States into withdrawing
from Europe. The effect, however. will
be the exact opposite.
Americas prestige and voice in max
ing the peace has been seriously weak
ened by the withdrawal of American
troops and sea forces from Europe. The
demands of Congress for the ending
OF the draft and the pressure to bring
the veterans back home have made it
difficult for American diplomacy to be
as effective as would be the case If a
STABLE American Army remained in
Europe.
IL Is primarily large American Air
Force that ought to be trained for Euro
pean patrol. If the Yugoslavs are shoot
ing down American planes, then all
American planes should be escorted bv
fighter planes of our own. This is not
means of provoking war but of pre-
venting it.
Recent Conference.
The other day, just before President
Truman left for his yachting trip. an
important conference was held at the
White House. 1t consisted Of the high
est officers of the Army, Navy and Air
Forces and of the State Department
Such conference could hardly be
routine affair. 1t is one of the few con-
ferences of this kind held since VI
day. 1t could mean that the deploying
OF our military, naval and aerial forces
in strategic parts of the globe as a
means of backing up our diplomatic
policy was under consideration.
Some few weeks ago, when the battle
ship Missouri was sent to the Mediter-
ranean, officials here said that such
voyages must not occasion surprise and
that the American Navy must feel free
to go anywhere in the world these DAYS.
Unfortunately, the United Nations has
not organized its military forces. The
preservation of peace is still a matter
for the United States and Great Britain
when 1t comes to air power and sea
power. Russia primarily has land power.
The best method of patrolling trouble
some land areas will be by air power,
and adjacent waters will be best pro-
tected by sea power, especially aircraft
carriers, which can furnish mobile bases
1t is not believed here that a third
world war is imminent but that troubles
requiring a show of force may recur
from time to time in the next few years.
Most important of all Is a demonstra-
ton by the United States that it is not
going to be driven back to isolationism
by vexatious quarrels with Russia. The
more the United States indicates that
she did not open up second front In
1914 and save the Soviets from being
crushed by Hitler only to permit Rus.
sia's totalitarian government to threaten
the peace Of Europe, the more likely is
Russia to be impressed.
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