Evening star., 1949-09-27
Revision Of Strategy
Seen Likely in Light
OF Russian A.Bomb
New Moscow Moneuver
In Cold War Could Stir
European Peoples Feors

In Cold War Could Stir
European Peoples Feurs
By David Laurence
Russia soon may announce that
she has not the remotest inten-
tion Of attacking the United
States. but she may emphasize
once more that her primary in
terest Is security for her empire in
Europe. =
Such q maneuver in the propa-
ganda war, which is certain to
ensue now that the Russians have
the A-bomb. could cause consid-
cradle Of a furry among the peo-
pies of Europe. ...
For If the United States is as
sured that the A-bomb will never
be used against her by Russia. II
would be tantamount to saying
that Russia intends only to- guard
her situation on the continent
This might conceivably be Rus
sia's answer to the Atlantic Pact
and the arms aid program.
Under the provisions Of the At
iantic treaty, an attack on any
European country which signed
the pact would automatically
bring the United States into thu
war. But would American aic
come in time in a third World Wa
which might be begun by the
dropping Of q. dozen atomic bomb.
on the important air fields o1
Europe from which heavy bomb
ers would be launched? Would
the United States from 5000 miles
away, even with the interconti-
mental bomber, be able to main.
tain sustained attacks in time tc
deter . Russian advance into the
heart Of EuropeP
Observers Study Strategy.
These are questions that will
open up new phases Of debate In
the world.
Many observers here are begin
ming to realize that the Russian
A-bomb might require q revision
of strategy. For up to now Amer
leans have been thinking almost
wholly about sending bombers
from this continent to destroy
Russian bases and paying less at
tention to the true objectiyes OF
Russian military planning-to oc-
!cupy Europe suddenly and dare
America to bomb Paris and other
allied cities.
Russia may have as many as
one hundred A-bombs within two
years. This is q lot OF A-bombs
because Americas stockpile is sup
posed to. be numbered only in the
hundreds. too.
The estimate as to Americas
probable number is derived from
testimony given before q Senate
committee by DR.. Robert Open
heimer. the atomic bomb expert.
- The estimate as to, Russia q
probable stockpile within two
years has just been made by DR..
r. E. Lapp In an interview in the
current issue of "U. 8. News IL
World Report" DR.. Lapp worked
on the Manhattan project and,
as a consultant, witnessed the
dropping of the two atomic bombs
at Bikini. He was scientific ad-
wiser to the War Department and
later, in the research. division of
the Navy Department and was
formerly executive director Of the
Atomic Energy Committee of the
Research and Development Board
of the National Military Estab-
-hshment.
-AIlayed Many Fears.
DIR. Lapp is the one scientist
who seems to have specialized on
defense aspects. of the atomic
bomb. He has allayed much ap-
prehension by pointing out the
limited damage that an A-bomt
can do and how concrete build
ings and underground subways
are q complete defense against
the deadly radioactivity Of the A
bombs. DR.. Lapp's plea made in
his book Must We Hide?". pub
1ished early this year. was for de-
.fenses in American cities by bet
ter planning and by concentrated
study on defense systems In the
crowded areas. He was one of the
first to dismiss as impractical
and improbable the use of A
bombs by an enemy through suit
cases or by dropping them in
-harbors. They do too little dam
age for an enemy's purpose that
way and hence it is not likely
that they would be wasted in this
manner.
DR.. Lapp sees no military pur-
pose in improving the destructive
ness of the A-bomb. He thinks
the Russians would overrun
Europe with their armies and that
the United States and her allies
would hesitate to strike the cities
of our own allies with the atomic
bomb. He believes orthodox
methods would have to be used in
military strategy and that the
!, foot soldiers and ground armies
will have to be reckoned with In
order to conquer the enemy.
More .land-army power-bigger
= standing armies than are now in
training-may be indicated for
" Britain and our continental allies.
: Likewise. the building of several
: strong aircraft carrier task forces
sby Britain and America to oper-
ate on the seas and deliver the
A-bomb In short successive strikes
as also indicated. For while car
riers are vulnerable to q certain
sextent. 1t is a, fact that not a
single carrier task force In the
. last war was put out of COM
= mission by Japanese suicide planes
or by any other kinds of plane,
although our fleets, ranged close tc