Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-01

Russia intends, after destroying the
obvious plans. But it will become
of questionable importance If Russia
is permitted to establish herself
along the Atlantic and Pacific and
begins to produce her own atomic
bomb.
The belief that Russia is not fully
prepared to wage war at this time
is pure wishful thinking. 1t is true
that the Soviet armies are not pre-
pared to fight such powerful army
as we had in Europe between 1914
and 1945. If the powerful American
divisions which broke the back Of
the Nazi armies and the powerful
air groups which smashed Germany
existed today between the Rhine
and the Channel instead Of the pres
ent weak skeleton formations, there
is no doubt that the Russians would
not have a chance against us, no
matter how many divisions they had.
Forces Are Weak
But our fighting strength in
Europe right now is less than three
divisions. Our Air Force is nowhere
near what it was on We day. The
French and British forces are la
mentally weak and dispirited. There
is more national unity in those
countries today that there was
year or two ago, but still Commu-
mist agents have succeeded in Great
ing a state of mind which does not
lend itself to long-range resistance.
| The French have manpower
enough to organize Immediately As
divisions, but they must rely on
American factories to provide them
with the necessary equipment. We
cannot provide them with it. We
are figuring on increasing our own
national forces by eight new divi-
sions. This will require a least ID
months under present conditions.
How can we assume the response
bility for providing war material for
IS new French divisions?
While it should be admitted that
the Red armies are not equal quail
tativeiy to the forces of the west
as they existed on We day, there is
no military force now in existence
which is able to stand before the
masses the U. S. 8. r. can throw
into a campaign at a moments
notice.
The sheer weight of Russia's more
than $50 divisions would annihilate
the weak forces which exist in West
ern Europe. This explains why the
French government is swallowing its
pride and urging the American and
British governments to negotiate
and appease Russia If necessary
rather than provoke Soviet attack.
Propitious Moment
The Kremlln is fully aware of
conditions in the west-much more
so than we are about conditions
behind the iron curtain. The Krem-
lin also is aware that in addition
to our unpreparedness for a major
war, a bitter electoral campaign
will be waged in America during the
next three months. The members
of the Politburo assume that no
political leader will be popular and
get the vote if he advocates in
volvement of the United States in
another war.
No moment has been more propi-
tious for the Kremlin to put into
effect its policies of reaching
Europe's and Asia's "rimland"-as
protection for the heartland-than
the next few months. The Soviet
leaders have made their calculations
a<d believe that while there is
slight danger of provoking the
American people to another bitter
fight, the chances that this will not
happen are very great, indeed.
sit Tight Policy
Their present policy is to sit
tight and let Washington exhaust
itself with diplomatic gestures and
notes. After a while, our diplomatic
observers believe, when this Gov
eminent is faced with the alterna-
tive of a shooting war or with
drawal from Europe, the Kremlin
is confident that we will withdraw.
Meanwhile, the Russians are hold
ing tight to their policy of squeez-
ing us out of Berlin-which is re-
garded by those in that city as
another potential Bataan. The air
lift which we are using to bring
supplies into that beleagured city
is spectacular and impressive. But
like many spectacular displays of
strength, it cannot go on indefinite
ly. The days of heavy fogs and fire.
quent bad weather are approaching
and our planes will be grounded for
considerable periods. Then what?"
the Russians ask.
The German people are watching
our efforts with admiration, for
American planes are performing a
remarkable feat. But the question
in their minds is whether there is
enough strength in America to
challenge the Russians when they
decide to start their march to the
Channel. They doubt it.
The Berlin affair, which has set
the international pot boiling, is a
premeditated incident on the part
of the Russians. We have to make a
choice in tho near f,tf,Ire u,bothor RI