Evening star., 1951-04-29

I~Gboteurs and spies who travel
without muCh difficulty between
Alaska and Siberia.
Last summer an explosion oc-
CURED at an important supply
center which caused the loss Of
$50 million worth of important
war material. The story was
hushed up in order not to alarm
the American people. Official re-
ports attributed the disaster to
undetermined causes. But Off
GERS on the spot do not have the
slightest doubt that it was the re-
suit of sabotage.
The 5000 ground and Air Force
personnel which we have strewn
throughout the whole Territory
are a pitiful handful of deter
mined men, we'll commanded but
repeatedly unable to cope with a
major Soviet surprise attack. TIE
number of air souadrons based in
Alaska must remain a military
secret. All that can be said pub
licly is that it is far off the re-
quirements to meet an aggression,
which would have surprise in it's
favor.
The high command in Alaska is
well informed about the strength
of the Russians and considers it
today as a real menace to our
security. According to conserva-
tive estimates there are at least
100000 Red troops in the portion
of Siberia facing Alaska. About
10000 are paratroopers. :
Bases in Siberia
1t must be remembered that the
Reds developed airborne warfare
long before any other nation did.
The first films of Red paratroop.
ers in action were shown by the
Soviet Embassy in Washington as
far back as 1886. Most American
generals who saw these films re-.
garded them as a joke and de-
clared that paratroopers could not
be effective since any small post
armed with machine guns could
destroy them before they could
land. Now airborne operations are
regarded as among the most i'm
portant in warfare. -.
The Soviets have constructed
large and efficient airbases irf
Eastern Siberia where their aift
strength is reported to exceedt
200 planes of all types. In their
daily reconnaissance, American.
air patrols notice Russian jets and
other types. The Reds seldom
cross the Bering Strait. But there
have been instances in which they
did and it is suspected that they
were on Photographic missions. 80
Without revealing any military
secrets it can be justly assumed
that Soviet ground forces, includ-
ing airborne divisions, exceed by
Isix-to-one the American defense
force in Alaska. Their air superb
Iority is estimated at four-to- lone,
at least.
The administration has. decided
that Europe is our first line Of
defense in the present global COM
'f1ict. In order to bolster the
military strength of Western Eu-
rope we are now sending four
divisions across the Atlantic. Even
the most violent opponents of the
administration do not deny the
Importance of keeping Western
Europe out of the Krer11lin's
clutches. But neither will the
most enthusiastic supporters Of
the administration contend that
the four divisions we are sending
to Europe, together with the two
we had in Germany, will be able
to stem a Soviet onslaught if it
comes this year.
On Guard in Japan
Unfortunately, however, polit-
ical considerations take precedence
these days over military exigen-
cies. Our hard-pressed troops in
Korea can hope only for replace
ments from the homeland. No
reinforcements are available. The
two National Guard divisions sent
Ito Japan are intended to form
defense force in the event the
Russians stage a demonstration
in force, either by stirring up the
Communists in Japan or by a
Liberation" action in Hokka:do,
which is within striking distance
of Sakhalin, where the Reds a.'e
reported to have concentrs I'd
about $4,000 former Japanese SOL
diers as an army of liberation"
We have definitely committed
four trained divisions for Western
Europe and some are already on
tho NOV Wo NOV ho noynoroIIoI