Evening star., 1950-09-28
Gen. Marshall Warns
OF FOLLY in Ignoring
Peril OF Atomic Attack
BY the Assoeiaied Press

BY the Associated Press
CLEVELAND, Sept. 28.-Secre-
tary of Defense Marshall said last
night the Nation is going through
a time of great peril and warned
that it would be "folly", to dis
count the possibility Of atomic
attack.
Speaking as president Of the
American Red Cross, Gen. Mar
shall announced that the Red
Cross has accepted an admins
tration request to take the lead
in training as many as 20 million
Americans in flrst-aid tech
niQue.
He called for hundreds of thou
sands of Red Cross volunteers
and declared that part of their
task will be to build UP motor
and canteen services "in prepara-
ton for any sudden emergency
which might require large-scale
movements Of people on short
notice"
Will Aid Blood Program.
Volunteers will also aid in the
Red Cross blood program, Gen.
Marshall said. He emphasized
that blood and blood derivatives
are essential "in case Of shock
and burns" and are "the only
known treatment for radiation
sickness"
N another step. he said, the
Rcd Cross will greatly expand"
its nursing service and expects to
train at least 100000 women as
nurses aides.
Addressing a meeting of Red
Cross volunteers, Gen. Marshall
said:
I'VE face a gruelling period OF
hard work. self f-denial and danger.
Task you to bear in mind that il
the fighting in Korea should
cease tomorrow, our increased re-
sponsibility would still be with us.
Nation Must Stay Alert.
1.-THE Nation has been alerted
and common prudence dictates
that we must remain on the alert
for some time to come"
Gen. Marshall disclosed that on
September 6 he received letter
from w. Stuart Symington, chair
man of the National Security Re-.
sources Board, asking the Red
Cross ito prepare for a possibly
critical shortage of nursing and
hospital services"
Gen. Marshall went on to say:
In one important respect. the
present emergency is unlike any
other which the American people
have faced. Our home soil has not
been in serious danger of attack
or invasion since 1914.
COmplacence Would Be Folly.
To-day we live In the era Of
the guided missile. the atomic,
bomb. the long-range planes and
submarines capable of delivering
attacks far from their home bases.
In the light of recent experience.
it would be folly for this country
to assume that II will remain for
ever free from such dangers"
Declaring that '.the kind of
disaster which would follow an
armed attack" would be too much
fo1 the resources of any single
organization, Gen. Marshall said: !:
THE nursing and safety services
must be built up to unprecedented
strength. We must know how to
give emergency care to victims of
shock, burns, fractures and bleed
ing.
Red Cross Aid Needed.
1.-THE morale factor is equally
significant. A skilled self-confi-
dent people does not succumb to
the panic that is born Of helpless
ness"
The Red Cross president said
the Korean fighting and its after
math may mean a renewal Of
some of the recreational activities
we engaged in during World
War H."
Already Gen. Macarthur has
requested personnel and facilities
for clubs in Korea" he said. II
have accepted this commitment in
behalf Of the Red Cross with the
understanding, Of course. that we
are not to duplicate the facilities
or activities Of the Army's Special
Service"