Evening star., 1950-01-08

are capable of unloading thou
sands of tons of high explosives
if not atomic bombs. All of them
feel that the old civilization
eventually will absorb barbarian
invaders. The Roman empire was
destroyed by barbarians, but the
Latin civilization still lives. Why
then-many Western Europeans
reason-risk an invasion far more
formidable and devastating than
the barbarian destruction when
this can oe avoided merely by
submission to a conQueror who
has the military power which Eu-
rope now lacks.
This psychology is we'll known
and far better understood in Mos
COW than in Washington.
Moscow considers us diehards
and so long as the potential war
power of the United States re-
mains unimpaired, the Kremlin
leaders fear that their plans in
the last analysis may be frustrated
by the United States. Because
the Asiatic mainland does not
harbor the feelings of the old
Western civilizations in Europe
and had little to risk in a war, it
had to be taken over physically.
Reds Plans May Jell
While Russia was marking time
in Europe. creating scares such as
the Berlin blockade. which focused
the attention of the American
people on insignificant situations.
her leaders were operating fast
and furious in the Far East. They
took advantage of the incompre-
hensible naivete of American poll
ticians and by supporting. with
everything at their disposal, the
Communist forces in China they
organized a fighting army which
conquered not only that vast
country but also brought Red
power within easy striking dis
| tance of Southern Asia.
This year may witness the full
fllment of all the plans Russia
has made for Asia. Westerners
and their influence are expected
to be completely eliminated from
that continent.
t The Russian strategists know
that even with their gains in the
Far East and with the obvious re-
Iluctance of Western Europeans to
pay more than lip service to
Americas plans to organize the
West as an active force of re-
sistance, the war potential of our
country is still great. They know
what American ingenuity, Amer
lican organization and the courage
and initiative of ordinary Amer
lean citizens can do when it comes
ito showdown. They realize,
possibly more than our own peo-
pie, the magnitude of our cam
paign in the Pacific in 1912, after
the Japs had dealt us what they
/ thought was a devastating blow at
Pearl Harbor. They remember
vividly how. only three months
after Pearl Harbor, American air
and naval forces. crippled and de-
pleted as they appeared to be.
took the offensive against a mighty
enemy who had prepared himself
for this showdown over a period
of nearly 10 years.
! The Russians know only too
we'll how after 1889 we sacrificed
the most elementary measures of
security in the Pacific in order to
pour the products of our war in
dustry into Europe. They re-
member how they MIXED us by
ordering lend-lease equipment
which was unessential and how
we gave it to them at a time
when our forces in the Pacific
were crying for the minimum Of
help. s
Vulnerable Spots Open q
The Russian leaders know that
unless America is seyerly wounded
early in a campaign its recupera-
tive powers ale so great that it
would be virtually invincible. Our
ability to outstrip all other
countries, provided We do not suf-
fer another Pearl Harbor before
our industries start working, is
we'll known. But the Kremlin also
knows that We are incorrigible OPP
timists who, while fearing tine
worst, always hope for the best. :
| It is an open secret that while
we spend billions to make Europe
secure we are doing nothing to
protect the most vulnerable parts
of the American heartland.
Aviation's tremendous strides
have changed radically the STRAIT
egy of war. at least insofar as its
initial surprises are concerned. A
well-directed and daring air blitz
can put a nation out of. the run
ming without much difficulty. Only
careful protection of the advanced
posts can avoid such an action.
Our advance positions are
Alaska, Greenland, and Iceland.
It is admitted by all military men
that if the Red Army can obtain,
a strong foothold in one or all of
these outposts our potential to
deal with an enemy force is some
what reduced. From Alaska and
Greenland enemy bombers could
reach our industrial centers be-,
tween New York and California in
less than six hours. All that is
necessary to put those cities out
Of commission for q long time is
a number of powerful raids, even
if they cost most Of the planes In
volved.
Once the industrial potential OF,
the United States is crippled and
the worlds greatest arsenals are
eliminated, the rest will be easy.
Europe and Asia will lose every