Evening star., 1951-01-07

ambassadors and ministers by
U. N. states, normal diplomatic
relations with Spain have been
resumed by most countries except
) France, which continues to sulk.
But that does not solve the de-
fense problem of Europe in the
least. Spain has today under arms
an army larger than the combined
forces of the continental Eu-
ropean members of the Atlantic
pact. 1t is a well-disciplined and
well-trained army. The Commu-
mist microbe has not penetrated
its ranks, while communism can
become rampant in the continent
tai European forces.
Besides her large standing army
i Spain has at least one million
trained soldiers subject to imme-
diate call.
In the event of a Red aggres-
sion soon against Western Europe
the chances of Withstanding it for
more than a few weeks are ex-
tremely slim. Spain offers an
ideal natural barrier to Red ag-
gression because of her geographic
cal position. 1t has airfields which
are desperately needed by the
American and British air forces
in case disaster befalls the thin
Allied ground forces now defend
ing the Rhine. But Spain needs
desperately to modernize her
army and system of communica-
tions.
Spain does not have arsenals to
manufacture tanks and other
heavy modern weapons. AS a mat
ter of fact, she has neither mill
tary aviation nor tank force and
other armored vehicles. She must
obtain these from the United
States in order to make her man
power effective. Yet, there is no
move, in Washington, London or
Paris, to take that vitally i'm
portant country into the Western
coalition.
The reason? Generalissimo
Franco is a dictator and the So
cialistS in France and Britain, as
well as small segment of the
public in the United States. do not
like dictators. It apparently is i'm
material that all these great pow
erS are helping Marshal Tito, who
is an outright Communist die
tator, and are more than anxious
to accept him as a partner in de-
fense against Russia.
Communist dictarors are one
thing in the eyes of the policy
makers in Washington, London
and Paris. They apparently can
be trusted. Nom Communist die
tators evidently are another breed
OF cats and should not be trusted,
according to the peculiar ideas of
the American, British and French
administrations.
Can't Win Quickly
The time may come when, be-
cause of dire necessity, attempts
will be made to rush heavy arms
to Spain. But the old spirit of
too little, too late" which almost
caused us to lose the last war
and brought us into our present
predlcament-is still prevalent.
1t seems that the French-and to
a lesser extent the British-gov-
ernment is so blinded by the post
war theological epidemic that il
cannot realize how it's own
chances of survival would be en-
hanced by taking Germany and
Spain into the Western coalition.
| II Russia decides to strike with
only a small portion of her mob
ilization forces-say As divisions
in the next six months. what
can the Atlantic pact offer in
opposition, except the question
able use of the atomic bomb?
Between nine and II divisions.
Assuming that our five National
Guard divisions. which were call
ed to duty after the Korean war
started, will be ready for action
next spring, the combined At
lantic pact forces ready for COM
bat in Western Europe will not
exceed-at the very best-16 di-
visions, or about one-third of the
prospective aggressor force.
| While these will be the outside
number that can be put in the
field Immediately, the Russians
have-outside of the satellites,
who are not likely to be used in
the campaign toward the Rhine
at least another go divisions avail
able on short notice between the
Oder and Vistula Rivers.
We may count heavily on our
atomic bomb. But in many mill
tary quarters serious doubt is held
whether this weapon can stop
masses of ground forces. The Air
Force has been highly efficient and
useful in Korea, but it has not
been able to stop the driving
Chinese masses. Atom bomb ex-
perts are said to have declared
that this missile could not be used
effectively in Korea. Why then
could it be used to good advantage
in Europe?
| We cannot hope to win World
War III Immediately after it
starts. We are not prepared, while
the enemy has done nothing but
get ready for showdown with the
West. even before World War II
ended. This is obvious now as the
result of revelations made in the
various spy cases in this country
and Britain. But we can ulti-
mately win the war, provided we
prepare our bases and make our
military Allies effective right away
Spain offers not only real, ready
to-f1ght manpower, but also an in
valuable land bastion where we
can start building up our forces
for the final blow at the enemy.
TT