The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-05-14
SIBERIAN FORCE IS
 BUILT UP
Marshall Testifies Russia Increasing Strength
 Near Korea

WAOt11NG1ON, MAY 1f - MT - Secretary Marshall testified today Russia had made 'sizeable increases" in it's military garrisons near Korea since last December.
 r Marshall told senators that while the Soviets always have maintained strong forces in their Siberian bor- ders, there has been a recent buildup in strength.
 He had mentioned this in testi- mony last week but his reference to December pin-pointed the time of the buildup as he had not done be- fore.
 Under questioning. Marshall also insisted that Gen. Douglas MacAr- thurs plan of stepped up air and sea fighting would not defeat Red China in Korea.
 For the seventh day, the defense secretary was before the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Isela- tions committees which are inqulr- ing into MacArthur's dismissal from his Far Eastern commands.
 Red China Issue
 Chairman Connally CD-Tex) of the Foreign Relations group asked Marshall whether tour air power and Navy could win war against Red China and .. keep them from making an invasion of sKo7ea 2'i
 "Formosa. you mean?" Marshall asked
 No" Connally replied. T mean keep them from coming over. like they are now. Could our Navy and air alone, without any ground troops -
 T do not think they could, sir, :" Marshall replied.
 Macarthur has testified that only a few more ground troops would be needed in Korea to win victory there if American bombers were permitted to raid Red China's bases in Manchuria, naval blockade was clamped on the China coas and Chinese Nationalist troops were used against the Communists.
 Russ Intervention Feared
 In previous testimony, Marshall had argued this program involved too big a risk that Russia might intervene and touch off a global war.
 He had questioned, too, whether the Macarthur program would end the war quickly. But Marshall once said that if he had absolute cer- tainty the Russians would not come in he would favor bombing Chinese bases in Manchuria.
 At the outset of today's hearing, Senator Russell (D-Ga) warned his colleagues against any leaks" of secret testimony from the closed door hearings.
 Unlocking Secrets
 He said We are unlocking secrets that have been protected in steel safes" and declared that neither our God nor our fellow citizens will ever forgive us" if indischtions add to the danger facing. American fighting men.
 Reporters and the public are barred from the hearings, but a stenographic report of what is said is sent to newsmen Censors first go over it and cut out anything they think might be damaging to the na- tional interest if made public.
 Russian Strcng tn
 Senator Bridges (R-N1 D took ur with Marshall the quest ion of the Russian strength in the Korean area.
 Senators have heard estimates that approximately 50O,0OO Russian troops are available with in a range of 200 miles from the Kor can border Bridges noted Marshall. had Ire ferred several times to the unuSua strength or the very sizatle strength on the borders up there in this area T want to ask you,' Brid ges con- tinued, If it is not true that Russia has consistently maintained large numbers of ground forces and ail forces and so forth on these borders for period of many years ever before this thing started?" Correct Version Marshall: That is correct, but was given the impression or tht information that more recently notably since I think December that there had been sizable increa SC: in the garrisons in that region" -