Evening star., 1951-05-03
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to make ourselves reciprocally un-
derstood.
Senator Russell-The reason I
ask the question: have been con-
cerned about our training of our
commissioned personnel, particu-
larly in the different languages to
enable us to have a co-ordinated
force in the event, which God
forbid. if it is necessary to assem-
BILE one to resist Communism.
Gen. MacArthur-I will say that
the Turkish brigade is one of the
finest I have ever been associated
with :.
Senator Russell Do you
have any estimate you could give
us as to the total strength of that
Chinese Air Force?
Gen. MacArthur-The estimates
vary. They varied as low as 300
planes and as high as 800 planes.
I saw one estimate that went up
to above a thousand. The actual
strength is conjectural.
Refers to Russian Strength.
Senator RUSSELL was i'm
pressed, general, in your tribute to
the Japanese people in your ad-
dress to the Congress. You stated
about the hazard of removing all
! of the troops that we had, garri-
son troops, from Japan to the
field in Korea. If Russia had seen
fit to have moved at that time, I
assume that they could have cap-
tured Japan. could they not?
Gen. MacArthur-I would doubt
lit very much. Senator.
Senator Russell ~ You would
doubt itp
Gen. MacArthur-Yes, sir. I
don't believe that Japan could
have been taken except by an am
lphibious effort, and as long as we
held control of the sea and the
air over that sea, I would doubt
that the Soviet would have been
able to over-run Japan in any
coup de main.
Senator Russell-Well, It is al
ways difficult for us to have any
estimate Of Russian strength in
that area. Some sources contend
lit is very substantial. They have
great airborne armies that they
can transport by air from place
to place, as well as considerable
air strength. What did your in
telligence reveal as to that?
Gen. MacArthur-I will give you
my own estimate if you will per-
NIT me- The Soviet in the
Far East deploys (the number was
deleted for security reasonS) of
armed men in the various three
services. He is dependent for their
support almost entirely from Eu-
ropean Russia.
This side of the Baikal region,
there is no industrial setup of ma
jor proportion, so that all of the
munitions equipment, all of the
strategic war weapons, all of the
|sustenance that goes in such ma
jor quantity to support armed
forces, must pass over that rail-
road line which runs from Euro
pean Russia across Siberia.
Sees Reds as on Defensive.
That line is strained to the very
utmost now to maintain on a
normal peace basis the forces
which the Soviet maintains in
Siberia.
I do not believe that it would
be within the capacity of the
Soviet to mass any great addi-
tional increment of force to
launch any predatory attack from
the ASiatic continent.
I believe that the dispositions
Iof the Soviet forces are. largely
defensive. I believe that the
Soviet has so often repeated the
incorrect statement that we are
planning to attack him, that he
has finally begun to believe him
self.
believe that the weakness of
Red China, weakness which is
very noticeable in the air and on
the sea, is a corollary of the in
ability of the Soviet logistical sys-
tenn to send out those munitions
to assist its allies.
believe that the Soviet has
the capacity to launch a punish
ing attack upon Japan. But I
do not believe the Soviet has the
capacity to over-run Japan until
she gets command of the sea and
the air.
That she could get command of
the sea in the face of our magnifi-
cent Navy I would be very doubt
full of under any circumstances
Thoir oi1. ie ~,a& - - 80.