Evening star., 1951-05-03
Macarthur Says Full Effort Would Win War
Continued From First <Page.)

do anything else"
That amounted to predicting a
stalemate in the Korean war, uu-
less air and naval forces are
turned loose to carry the fighting
to the Chinese Reds in Manchuria.
Chairman Russell of the COM
bined committees, asked Gen.
MacArthur's opinion as to whether
the Russians would move in Asia
or Europe first.
"Or do you think they have any
hard and fast plans in that direc-
ton, but are awaiting events that
might make one or the other area
more propitious?" Senator Rus
sell asked.
Constantly Asked More Troops.
Gen. Macarthur replied: II
would say that it would be highly
speculative to attempt to guess,
that it would be quite ridiculous.
II believe that the Soviet high
command, from the military view
point, represents high degree of
efficiency. I do not believe that
they would put themselves into
any straight-jacket of inelaSticity,
any program of A. B. c., or June,
July or August. which would de-
termine it.
II believe that, like all good
commanders. they would be f1ex-
ible enough to adjust their move
ments to the conditions that
exist"
Senator Russell asked whether
Gen. Macarthur ever had sub
mitted any estimate of the num-
Der of troops required to achieve
the mission Of the United Nations
in Korea.
Gen. Macarthur replied:
Il have constantly asked for
more troops than I was able to OBJ
tain, Senator-from the beginning
of hostilities."
Railroad Is Key.
In minimizing the ability of
Russia to overrun Japan, or to
launch "any predatory attack
from the Asiatic continent" Gen.
Macarthur said Russia's ability to
move east is limited by the capa-
city OF the Trans-Siberian rail-
road.
II 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" he testi-
fed.
Other highlights of his testi-
mony:
The weakness of Red China
noticeable in the air and on the
sea, is a corollary of the Soviet's
inability to move supplies in that
direction.
Russia could launch punish
ing attack on Japan, but lacks the
capacity to 'overrun" Japan
until she gets command of the
sea and of the air." He doubted
that in face of our magnificent
Navy"
Warns of Soviet Air Power.
Gen. Macarthur added, how
ever, that Soviet air strength is
not to be discounted.
The general began to estimate
Russian air strength in the Far
East, but the figures he gave as
to numbers Of planes were striken
out ny the censor before the
transcript became public.
Gen. Macarthur said the Soviet
probably suffers from lack of
maintenance, gasoline and other
supplies for its air strength.
How long she would be able to
maintain an air effort in an all
out war out there is, of course
speculative" he went on. "My
own opinion is it would not be too
long. I believe that their efforts
would deteriorate from the be-
ginning of hostilities."
RuSsia'S failure to make anv
move against Japan when Amer
ican troops left there for Korea
last summer tends to bear out his
estimate, Gen. Macarthur testi-
fed.
Russians Have German Subs.
Asked about Soviet submarine
strength. the general said Russia
over the centuries has never been
able to develop a navy.
The general said the Russians
have a number of modern sub
marines in the Vladivostok area
He gave a figure but it was de-
leted. He added they were Ger
man Snorkels, but did not know
whether they have German crews.
He believe the submarines are
largely for defensive purposes
but the threat poses very poten-
tial effect upon operations in the
Far East"
Gen. Macarthur began his testi-
mony with a statement that the
enemy has not yet launched air
on our ground forces in
Korea "in any serious way"
He told Senator Russell there
has been an occasional, sporadic
strike of one or two planes, but
nothing of any serious nature
whatsoever"
Chinese Air Strength Uncertain.
Gen. Macarthur said estimates
Of Red Chinese Air strength range
all the way from 300 to 1000 or
more planes. The actual strength
is conjecture, he said.
With controversy still raging
between Democrats and Republi-
cans over the closed hearing
policy, the session was underway
less than an hour when departing
Senators began to repeat bits of
information they had heard.
In a last-minute compromise.
the committee had votec to let all
96 Senators attend as observers.