Evening star., 1951-05-15
Something Big in the Wind?

DeSplGe mourning 1nQlcaClOnS tnaC the Cn1.
nese Communists may launch a massive new
offensive at any moment some members OF the
Senate committees investigating our Korean
policy have suddenly begun to strike note of
cautious optimism. What they have limited at
rather crypticaly--is the possibility that the
war may be brought to satisfactory end in the
relatively near future.
i Thus Republican Senator Flanders of Ver-
mont has made the statement that there "seems
to be something big in the wind" that may sup
port Defense Secretary Marshall's belief that the
forces of the United Nations are moving toward
successful conclusion of the war in Korea.
Similarly. Democratic Senator Kefauver of Ten
nessee has let it be known that he has definite
feeling" that those in command of our American
and allied operations have plan (which makes
the outcome look optimistic"
It may well be, of course, that Senators
Flanders and Kefauver have given voice to
nothing more than wishful thoughts without any
real facts to back them up. Yet though events
may prove them to be altogether wrong they
are both able legislators with sense of respon-
sbility and their participation in the investiga-
ton of General MacArthur's dismissal has placed
them in a position where they may have heard
on-the-record information warranting the hope
full tone of their remarks In the circumstances
it is not unreasonable to feel that what they have
dI, WLSCueT QlSCTeeCly or not, may nave
lot of substance in it. That is to say there
may indeed be a, genuine possibility that the
Korean war-either by military means or politi-
cal negotiations can be ended sooner than has
been generally supposed. 80
As matter of fact, unless Moscow is ready
to precipitate an all-ont war in Asia by enabling
Peiping to throw big air armadas and submarine
forces against the U. N. in Korea 1t is difficult
to see how the Chinese Communists can profit
from continuing the struggle much longer They
have suffered very grevous casualties-some-
times at ratio running as high as so to land
they will continue to suffer them unless they can
match our far superior f1repower and effectively
challenge our present dominance of the sea and
sky. Their losses have been many times greater
than ours. For example, as General Marshall has
testified, our casualty rate, which has been
sharply reduced since June, averaged three
tenthS OF per cent of every 100 men engaged in
battle from January through April BY way of
contrast in terms of dead and wounded, the
enemy lost upwards of Is per cent of the 10000
troops taking part in last months ill-starred Of
fensive against our American and allied armies.
How long can the Chinese Communists af-
ford to suffer such tremendous losses? If they
strike again-as they seem to be getting ready
to do-and if they receive the same kind of fear
some punishment, will they still have stomach
for the battle? Their population Is vast, but
their army is by no means limitless, and they
must be asking themselves what they can gain
in the end If the only thing they have to show
fer their efforts is the defamation of their
trained troops. Certainly, unless the Kremlin is
prepared to help them Offset our great edge in
hrepower and crack our air and naval control
they have every reason to give serious thought
right now to ending their aggression in Korea
and negotiating for a settlement.
In sum, coupled with persistent rumors that
the Peiping regime is having trouble with the
Chinese people and that its relations with Mos
cow have soured bit, the fact that it's forces in
Korea have been terribly mauled lends plausi-
bility to Senator Flanders hopeful observation
about something big in the wind" and Senator
Kefauver's definite feeling" that there may be
reason for optimism At any rate, assuming that
the leaders of Red China are not anxious to see
their army destroyed on an installment-plan
basis 1t does not seem entirely inconceivable that
they may be looking for a way out
If that is the truth Of the situation, then
the Korean struggle may in fact come to an end
in the not too distant future. In that case need
less to say the Presidents rejection of General
MacArthurs military proposals will be vindicated
in a striking manner and the world at large
for a while at least-will be relieved of the i'm
minent threat of another global war But this
is a wholly speculative matter that only events
themselves can clarity Much as we may hope
for the best, we had better keep our fingers
crossed and hold our wishfulness in check
Senator RusseIrs Warning
There have been, on the whole, surprisingly