Evening star., 1950-07-07
Korean Developments
Raise Vital Questions
Not Fully Realized
Airpower Alone connot
Win War; U. S. in Stote
Of virtuoI Disarmament
By Darid Laurence

Of Virtual Disarmament
By Dapid Laurence
Developments thus far in the
Korean war point certain lessons
and raise vital questions. Here
are the principal points which are
not yet fully realized by the
American people:
/. The United States now stands
committed to put military forces
into action in Europe and Asia the
moment either. Soviet forces or
satellite armies controlled by Rus
sia start hostilities against For
mosa, Indo- China. Iran. Turkey,
Greece, or West Berlin. respec-
lively.
2. The United States is in a
state of virtual disarmament with
her manpower at q low point in
the Army, Navy and Air Force.
While the United States Joint
Chiefs Of Staff want to get more
manpower ready at once, Presi-
dent Truman is opposed to such
action at this time.
Airpower Alone Cannot Win.
8. Airpower alone cannot win a
war. Misuse of the term "air-
power" has led to an emphasis on
strategic bombing which has re-
suited In huge appropriations for
B-36s and other big bombers while
the other categories Of airpower
have been neglected. These are
the fighter and light bomber
planes that fly from the decks of
aircraft carriers and the kinds of
planes needed for low-level tao
tical air protection Of ground
troops. Gen. Devers, former chief
Of the ground forces of the Army,
complained several months ago
about the mistaken obsession of
airpower alone can win : a-war
which was sweeping Washington.
He is now unhappily being proved
correct.
4. Something Is vitally wrong
at the top command in Washing
ton. The necessary forces to land
instantly at Korea and to protect
the Seacoasts were not stationed
there, though 1t was known as a
trouble area. Was 1t the fault of
the Secretary of the Navy or the
Joint Chiefs of Staff or the COM
mand authority given Gen. Mac
Arthur which kept naval forces
away? To these questions must be
added another: Why were all our
II, 1,000 Marines stationed In con-
tinental United States?
5. Why were the conventional
F-51s-now so much needed by
the United States Air Force in
Korea-considered obsolete and
turned over to the National Guard
units while Jet fighters not maneu-
verable in local operations got
prior consideration with Air Force
units in active service? These
old planes now have to be ferried
all the way across the Pacific in
ships, as they cannot themselves
fly across the ocean.
4 s. Why were the Navy,S air.
craft carriers put in '1nothballs"
last year-and a cut of virtually
40 per cent imposede on naval
aviation? On whose advice was
this fateful step taken?
What of Bradley's Views?
Z. Why did Gen. Omar Brad
ley say that there never would
be need for amphibious troops
as the next war wouldn't re-
Quire any amphibious landings?
And has the general-who is
the only member Of the Chiefs of
Staff who sits in with the Presi-
dent and the National Security
Council-changed his views?
8. Why has the President vetoed
the suggestions emanating from
his own military advisers that
volunteer reserves" be permitted
to come back to their respective
services? Is the President over
riding military advice because OF
his desire not to alarm" the
country. and will the country be
more alarmed when it discovers
that proper precautions desired
by the military are not being
taken?
9. What happened to our mill
tary Intelligence or espionage
service in Korea? How much in
formation came in as to Korean
mobilization, and what was done
with the reports? Who evaluated
them and disregarded the plain
implications of the information?
10. II the data on surprise at
tack on Korea were so poorly
handled, have the American
people any assurance that they
will be protected against sudden
attacks in other areas of the
world where the United States
has vital interests?
IL. Why is the administration
30 sure Stain will not involve the
United States in series of local
wars, forcing American strength
to be widely dispersed in the next
several months?
IL. Can the safety of the United
States be guaranteed by arm
chair speculations inside the Gov
ernment or by stationing Ameri-
can and allied forces at danger
spots with a growing increase in
manpower and equipment to stave
OF possible attacks?
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