Evening star., 1948-10-17

Greece, believing the United States
cannot afford politically to pull out
Of Greece, is now indulging in q
form of international blackmail-
i.e., knowing that the United States
must have success here, Greece
Is not capable Of making the full
military effort of which she at this
time is capable, until she receives
more aid. VIII you comment on
this?"
Mr.. Grady replied no comment"
as he did to the query as to whether
his advisers suspected cases of
mutiny in the Greek army. He said
Communist efforts to infiltrate the
army have not been successful Ito
q great degree"
Asked whether his advisers felt a
public announcement in the Greek
press of o request for an increase
in the size Of the army had injured
troop morale, he answered:
II think 1t was unfortunate"
Larger Army Studied.
Mr.. Grady said the question as
to whether Greece needs a larger
army has been presented to the
American Government land Is now
under study"
The latest report on Greece sent
to Congress October 4 showed $685.
47o,ss3 actually spent as of June
80 out Of the more than $500, ,000, 900
allocated for the Greek aid pro-
gram.
President Truman said in a report
to Congress on October 5 that the
American aid program to block
Communist expansion in Greece and
Turkey has been "a conspicuous sue
cess" But Mr. Truman added that
q difficult struggle lies ahead" be-
fore Greek security Is achieved.
Mr.. Grady said the open border
through which Albania, Yugoslavis
and Bulgaria aid the Communist
guerrillas was a main factor behind
their ability to continue organized
military operations.
II do not believe the situation is
acutely worse" Mr.. Grady said. TT
Is not completely satisfactory but
ups and downs are to be expected
in any campaign. We have abund-
antly equipped and supplied the
Greek armed forces. The fighting
ability and general quality Of the
Greek soldier are well known to you.
It Is my hope that with our con-
tinuing aid the Greek armed forces
will be able soon to master the
situation.
Assails Over Optimism"
He said he had no doubt Of COM
plete elimination Of organized guer-
rilla warfare but "just how soon 1t
Is difncult. to say"
Mr.. Grady declared there has
been too much optimism in the
United States and Greece over past
successes and possible future sue.
cesses Of military operations.
The ambassador referred his ques-
TONERS to his last report from 1t.
Gen. James A. Van Fleet, American
military commander In Greece, when
asked whether military operations
are unable to solve the guerrilla
problem.
That report said q long struggle
could be expected. It said with the
aid Of Greece's Communist neigh
bors on the north Vafiades could
maintain force Of $4,000 In Greece
despite the fact 26,361 guerrillas
have been killed or captured since
the first of the year, and the United
States has supplied the Greek army
with 142 aircraft, 1000 bombs, 0,142
motor vehicles, 1,45o,000 uniforms,
4,27o radios, six motor gunboats
and other equipment.
American newsmen visited the
Vitsi sector this week. 1t. Gen.
George Papagergiou, Greek COM
mander in the field, said he had
plenty of equipment, soldiers and
detailed plans for an offensive. He
said troop morale was high, but
declined to reveal why there had
been no major action since his
troops lined up August 80 for al