Evening star., 1951-12-23
Allies Confident They Can Stop Reds on Rhine
With 400, 900 Combat Troops Now There
Experts Soy Soviet
Is No Longer Able
To Overrun Europe
BY DonieI De Luce and
George BouItwood
'soeioted Press Foreian Cerrespon,


Assoeiotsd Press Foreign Correspondent
With Allied Forces in Germany,
Dec. 22.-If Russia suddenly at
tacks, Allied commanders believe
they are strong enough now to
hold on the Rhine.
A year ago, the grim prospect
was a headlong retreat to the
Pyrenees and the Brittany PENN
sula.
The idea that most of Europe
would have to be lost to Russia
before it could be saved is now out
Of date.
A massive build-up of Allied
ground forces in Germany has
been carried through, peacefully
in 1851. Troop strength has more
than doubled.
The United States, for example,
had only 10000 combat electives
here at the start of the year. Now
there are 100000. The British are
WA ONNA 4VO,OUO.
In the months Immediately
ahead, the big Western weakness
In Germany is not on the ground
but In the air. The Russians have
more and better war planes here.
Reached Parity on Ground.
In ground combat capability, the
Allies have reached parity with
the Soviet army group in East
Germany for the first time since
1945. This was possible because
no fresh divisions were sent by
the Kremlin to Gen. VASTLY Chui-
kov. However, some of his old di-
visions, which were at 70 per cent
OF their size on paper, have been
increased to rs per cent.
OF some 30 Soviet divisions in
East Germany, eight are artillery,
engineer and anti-aircraft which
would be termed corps or army
troops by the West.
The IA strong Allied divisions
in West Germany, plus their corps
and army support, are considered
q match in size and f1repower for
the % Soviet infantry and
armored divisions opposite them.
The Allies have more men in
Germany-400,000 to Russia S
100000. But the ratio of combat
personnel is figured at / to l, be-
cause fewer Soviet troops, proper
tionately, are detailed to supply
tasks.
If Soviet forces in the East
zone remain at their present
strength, the day already has
passed when they could strike
westward suddenly and seize Eu-
rope in a single onrush.
Could Halt Attack.
The Allies have enough power Il
on the ground to bring surprise !
one-wave attack to a halt on the
Rhine. There are now six Ameri-
can divisions instead of two, four
British instead of two, three
French, and the equivalent of a
mixed division of Canadians, Bel
gians, Danes and Norwegians.
In addition, two French divi-
sional cadres are in close reserve /
west of the Rhine.
Current intelligence indicates
no activity afoot to reinforce Gen.
Chuikov with more divisions in
the near future. A buildup is al
most certain to be noticed i'm
mediately for military information
seeps quickly and accurately out
Of East Germany.
No Soviet divisions are station
ed in Czechoslovakia. Yet this
would seem to be a prerequisite
for real drive westward. Only a
Soviet training mission is active
there.
Presumably, too, the Russians
would bring second invasionI
wave to Poland, before starting
big show. This has not material
lied.
The militarized regiments of
the East German peoples police
are training in doldrums. Their
numbers-50,000 young men under
Communist indoctrination - are
static.
Though a new Soviet buildup
In the heart of Europe is not yet
underway, it could begin any time.
Some allied officers call 1852
"Russia's year of decision" The
high ranking opinion goes this
way:
They can't wipe us out with
what they already have in po-
sition. AS late as last summer, they
could have done just that-with
scarcely an hours advance warn
ing.
But they can get back their
ground superiority at the jump
of point in 1852 if they choose
to bring divisions from home. The
West has to create new divisions.
That's slower.
"If there is no full dress attack
IN 1852, it should be too late for
one in 1858. We ought to be able