Evening star., 1952-04-02
BY the Associated Press

WOfU TcpOTt OF zen. E1SennOtOeT
on todGy'S first anniversary of
SHAPE:
One year ago, Supreme Head
quarters, Allied Powers in Europe
assumed operation control of the
forces dedicated to the defense
|of Western Europe.
It would be disastrous If the
favorable signs and developments
recorded in this report were to
put any mind at ease. or to create
a sense of adequate security, for
there Is no real security vet
achieved in Europe; there is only
a beginning.
We are competing with an
theological force, communism
which has joined with the i'm
|perialistic ambitions of a group
controlling all life and resources
found between the Elbe and the
Caina Sea.
First Step Forward.
We want peace. We want free
dom. too, and the individual
rights to which our whole civili-
cation is dedicated. But to want
these things is not enough. The
enormity Of the present threat
will never be met by half
hearted measures or by any
superficial facade.
NATO itself is a significant
step to meet both the present
danger of aggression and the
tragic struggles and dissensions
that have divided our peoples in
the past.
Yet, it has seemed more than
once within our countries that po-
litical factions hold their own i'm
mediate gain higher than the fate
Of their nation or even that of
civilization ITSELF
At the same time, there are
workers in our member countries
still suffering the delusion that
their interests are served by asso-
citation with Communicated labor
groups. It is nightmarish that any
free worker of the West could re-
spond voluntarily to the same
Kremlin voices that have dictated
the elimination Of free labor
unions in Russia and satellite
countries.
u. s. Has Self Interest.
The United States, for example.
is furnishing much of the material
resources of this project during
the current year because it be-
lieves that Americas enlightened
self-interest is served thereby.
Most American people agree as to
the wisdom and necessity of this
course. But they will continue to
believe their own security interests
are being served only as other par
'ticipants show cooperation and
|enterprise in improving their own
defenses.
Consequently, it would be fatu-
Gus for any one to assume that the
Taxpayers Of America will continue
to pour money and resources into
Europe unless encouraged by
steady progress toward mutual Coz
Operation and full effectiveness.
Under duress. the satellite coun-
tries had been obliged to follow
the policy Of Soviet Russia. Their
foreign masters had set them to
work Immediately to train for war
and had merged their economy
with that of Russia.
BY the beginning of 1851. thsee
nations had been forced to pro-
duce between them, q total of
some 60 divisions, while their
air forces were also under develop
ment. In Eastern Germany, in
defiance of her obligations. Russia
had organized a para-military
force, the Bereitschaften.
Split by Iron Curtain.
The Iron Curtain divided the
continent into regimented and
Free Europe. East Of it were ITS
Soviet line divisions. one-third Of
which were either mechanical
or armored, and an air force OF
10000 aircraft. The navy at the
same time stood at 20 cruisers
and some 300 submarines.
Behind all this was a vast,
sprawling economy, still largely
harnessed to war. Though inef-
flcient by Western technical stand
ards, Soviet industry had already
demonstrated that it was produc-
ing atomic weapons.
At the moment, however. In
Western Europe there were fewer
than IS NATO divisions ade-
quately trained and equipped for
war. In the air the situation was
not better, perhaps worse. We had
fewer than 1000 operational air
craft available in all Western Eu-
rope, and many of these were Of
|obsolescent types.
From the naval viewpoint we
were much better off, although a
tremendous effort would be re-
|quired-to offset the threat of sub
marine attack on vital sea routes.
The organizational framework
of SHAPE was virtually completed
in June, when Admiral Robert B.
Carney was appointed to COM
mand Allied Forces Southern Eu-
rope.
Further Needs Stressed.
Very quickly after the establish
Iment of the command structure
we began to see definite improve
ment in the morale and readiness