Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-15
U. 5. Plans 10 Send
Only -Four Divisions
For Europe Defense

policy.
Trying to Build Morale.
Senator Stennis, Democrat, OF
Mississippi appeared to reflect the
reaction Of many others in the
crowded caucus room when he
told Secretary Marshall:
II believe you have taken a lot
Of the heart out of the argument
about this resolution -
Spectators and Senators leaned
forward attentively when Gen.
Marshall said he had obtained
President Humans permission to
reveal the size of the American
ground Army for Western Europe
and was doing so reluctantly be-
cause there is a greater peril to
our security through weakening
the morale of our Allies by a de-
bate based. upon uncertainties
than there can possibly be through
the public disclosure of our
planned strength figures.
throughout his testimony Sec
rotary Marshall emphasized that
the main purpose of this Govern
ment today is to build up the mo-
rale and will to resist among the
people of the II other North At
lantic treaty nations.
No Great Land Offensive.
Senator Lodge, Republican, of
Massachusetts,. veteran of World
War II, apparently seeking to
answer arguments raised by for
mer President Hoover, brought
out from Secretary Marshall that
there is no intention to build a
vast army for land offensive
against the Soviet Union. The
Secretary agreed with Senator
Lodge that it probably would re-
quire 800 divisions for such an
offensive.
Senator Lodge also asked if it
is not equally true that a limited
number of divisions, strategically
placed, could hold up an enemy
attempting to invade Western
Europe. Secretary Marshall said
they certainly could seriously
resist" while air power and other
defenses were being brought into
play.
The United States now has in
Europe the First Infantry Division
and a constabulary equiv
alent to second division-trained
and equipped for field combat, yet
the last official indication of troop
strength in Europe was about ST.
900 men. Thus more than $4,000
men of the present force pre-
sumably are in support elements.
"As Gen. Eisenhower pointed
out. in his recent testimony here,
the United States forces will con-
stitute only a minor portion of
these proposed integrated forces
the major portion being fur
nished by the Western European
nations" Gen. Marshall said.
This is particularly true in the
matter of ground forces"
Takes Step Reluctantly.
The general told the Senators
that he had obtained President
Truman's permission to discuss
the size of the American contribu-
ton because of the great amount
of discussion which has centered
on the subject :.
Il take this step reluctantly
because of the security considera-
tons involved-but I have reached
the conclusion that there is a
greater peril to our security
through weakening the morale of
our allies by a debate based upon
uncertainties, than there can pos
sibly be through the public dis
closure of our planned strength
figures"
In ripping the top-secret label
off this much of the Governments
blueprint for defending Western
Europe, Gen. Marshall emphasized
that the aim of the forces is to
keep the peace.
Opposes Limiting Number.
He said the intention is:
l. ITO deter aggression if that
be possible, and
2. ITO defeat aggression if, in
spite of all Our efforts. the actions
Of the Soviet Union or it's satellites
should precipitate another World
War"
The proposed six United States
divisions under Gen. Eisenhower
would be part of a total con-
templated defense force of about
10 divisions.
AS the hearings got under way,
figures were made public show
Ing that Russia and her sat
elites have 5 million men under
arms and the North Atlantic
Treaty nations As million.
Oficial Estimates.
The figures were contained in
handbook prepared by the two
committees on the eve of the hear
lngs. The figures on Soviet mill
tary manpower have been used
before in publications, but they
now bear the stamp of official
estimates.
The report said the total
strength of Soviet armed forces
Is estimated at more than 4 mil
lion organized into about ITS divi-
Sions.
The report made these estimates
Of the European satellites armed
torces:sa Albania. 10000; Bulgaria,
10000: Czech slovakia, 100000;
East Germany so, 900; Hungary.
$1,000; Poland, 100000; Romania,
5000. -
It set Tito's Yugoslav armed
force at .350,00O men.
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