Evening star., 1949-11-29
Virtual Abandonment
OF u. ). Defenses in
Mediterranean Seen
Control of Seas Declared
Lost in North Pacific
And Around Alaska
Bv David Layrence

And Around Alaska
By Dauid Lavrence
The United States has virtually
abandoned the defense Of the
Mediterranean. This means that,
If war should break out. all car
goes of gasoline and all supplies
for bases in the Near East would
have to be shipped for nine
months or more around the tip
of South Africa, as was done in
World War II to avoid subma-
rines. It will take nine months
to get American ships out OF
"mothballs" and train enough
aviators for an anti-submarine
campaign.
Unless the lone possible enc
my"-to which reference is often
made by the military chiefs-is
considerate enough to give us
about nine months warning, the
United States will not have fleet
ready to defend the Mediterra-
mean.
The United States likewise has
virtually abandoned the defense
Of the North Pacific.
Complaints From Alaska.
This means that control of the
seas in and around Alaska has
been practically surrendered al
ready. Gov. Ernest Gruening Of
Alaska has complained vehement
ly to the joint chiefs of staffs that
Alaska has been left defenseless
and can be taken by airborne
troops from Siberia at any time.
According to public announce
ment of aircraft carriers decom-
missioned, the Navy has been cut
down in size to the point where
the Russian Navy in the Mediter-
ranean-its submarines as well as
the fleet it has available to bring
into the Mediterranean In a few
hours from the Black Sea-can
dominate the sea route from Glib
raltar to Suez.
The theory Of instant retalia-
ton" which American military
men have recently expounded now
appears to have been given up so
far as air power operating over
sea routes is concerned. Despite
the frequent statements by men,
bers of Congress that Russia has
no navy" it is conceded at the
Pentagon Building that the Sow
lets today have the largest num-
ber of submarines in the world.
The United States has put in
''mothballs" practically all its
small aircraft carriers which are
used for anti-submarine work.
and there are not enough large
carriers to make one f1rst-class
task force for use in the Mediter-
ranean. When aircraft carriers
70 into mothballs, trained aviators
are released, too, and 1t takes
months to train aviation units.
The British have meager naval
strength today and could not de-
fend the Mediterranean.
On the face of it, all this seems
like a poor way to impress Rus
sia. For months now the philos-
ophy expressed repeatedly in pub
lie speeches by spokesmen OF the
armed services here has been
that Russia can be kept from
making war because OF the poten-
tial strength Of Americas miliS
tary forces.
Bases Cannot Be Supplied.
With the growing Importance Of
bases In the Near East as the
place from which offensive and
defensive operations against Rus
sia would have to be conducted
in case Of war, the Soviets need
worry very little now. The bases
cannot be supplied by sea except
at great risks. The Soviets, more
over, are confident that the Unit
ed States will not use the atom
bomb unless Russia does-so the
situation Is one that resembles
closely that OF World War II. It
means that Russia's land armies
would be dominant on the CONT
nent and that, with the Mediter-
ranean practically abandoned to
Russian submarines. strategic
bombing attacks would have to
win the war.
The Soviets, however. are
doubtless building their factories
underground. Much Of Americas
defense money is being put into
long-range bombers for strategic
attack. Very little is being put
into the making Of the necessary
planes to support ground troops
and for Use against ground troop
operations.
When Congress meets in jan
uary. the House Armed Services
Committee will make public its
analysis of the weaknesses Of the
present defense policies and will
direct attention to the tragic
failure to keep enough air power
to maintain a force in being to
control the air over the seas, es-
pecially for anti-submarine war
fare.
The House committee has heard
all the testimony it wants on re-
cent controversies. Chairman
Vinson has all the facts, for in
stance. concerning the removal of
Admiral Denfeld and does not
think 1t necessary to take any fur
ther testimony. The next task Of
the committee Is to make deci-
sions and to announce In report
which Congress can consider just
what is happening to the defense
policies of the United States not
withstanding the expenditure Of
$4,000, 100000 a year, including
North Atlantic pact money.
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