The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-01-01
Capitol News

built in the United States since
World War II and packs a 100 nm
gun, is fast and maneuverable. II
is said to be more than match
for the Joseph Stain Ill. which the
Russians possess in great quantity
However, there is little informa.
| ton from Russia regarding new
heavy tanks, or improvements In
the Joseph Stain Ill, which was a
good heavy tank seven or eight
years ago. In fact it was this tank
which proved to be match for
the German Tiger, in the Nazi In
yasion of Russia in l94l-l942, and
.s43. 1t is only reasonable to as
sumo that the Russians have per-
fected or built a new heavy tank.
and not been content to use the
heavy of the last war indefinitely.
Thus we really do not know how
the new heavy tank being built by
Chrysier compares with the latest
heavy tanks built by Russia. We
do know that in both world wars
US. tanks have been 0utclassed by
tanks of the enemy, and that If war
began tomorrow we would have no
heavy tanks at all for some time.
II is well to withhold optimism
about our heavy tank, which is
not yet in production. Tankmen in
Germany, who have light and me-
dunn tanks at their disposal, know
the Reds in Eastern Germany have
heavies and that we have none.
Perhaps the news that we are at
last building heavy tanks will
cause as much concern on the
other side of the curtain as it
causes hope on this side.
The Army expects the new tank
to be in mass production in the
first part of 1852, if serious delays
sre not encountered. If some Of
them reach Europe by May Of
next year it might be timely
arrival, since next spring and sum-
mer are generally conceded to be
the crucial moment for western
Europe.
Building jet planes takes time.
That is what botherS Air Force of.
ficials in Washington who want ar
all Jet heavy bomber as fast as pos
sible. They have been told by
Poeing experts, who are building
the Air Forces medium jet bomb
er, that it will be years, not mon.
tbs, before heavy jet bomber can
be put into mass production.
Thee officials point out that i
was, l943 when the first effort
were begun to secure jet bomber
for the US. The first such bomber
was delivered to the Strategic Air
Command about eleven weeks ago.
BY this spring the United States
will probably have enough of them
to form tactical units. Thus eight
years, or more have been required
to produce the medium jet bomber
known as the BAT.
Washington is hoping Boeing can
cut much of production time from
the BAT schedule in construction
of the B-52-the heavy all-jet bomb.
er under order. BY using much oil
the BAT design, and simply max.
ing the B-52 a heavier varsion Of
its medium sister, officials hope
the eight year period will be cut
considerably. The job has beer
underway for some time now and
there are hopes that all-jet heavies
will be delivered in two years.
General Dwight d. Eisenhower
is now considered irredeemably ir
the Republican party camp. This
realization has finally sifted dowr
to Democratic supporters of the
General as a result of likes re
cent trip to the United States. Or
that trip General Ike turned aside
all thoughts of being the Democra
tic candidate not by turning
down a presidential offer Of sup
pert winch he didn't get directly
but by assuring. Republican friends
] he would noe kS them doaVi If Ahey
got him nominated al the G.. o. p
convention. -
/ The General made it clear. how.
ever, that he would not engage in
petty political maneuvering to get
himself become known as Repub
lican and to let his name be enter.
ed in several primaries in the com.
ing months. This is the best sum,
mary of results of his recent trip
that can be gathered.
In brief, the General put his posi-.
ton thus: He is a Republican. His
family before and his family today
are Republicans, as he is. He will
accept clear call to. the Presiden
| cy and he will even 60 so far as IL
make his position on this obvious
in the nearing months. But he will
not polite for the nomination,
which he thinks military men
should not do. II drafted conclu.
siveiy by the national G. o. P. Con
vention. he viii accept the call and
run against the Democratic candi-
date.
No matter from which direction
this decision is viewed. il is a blow
tn the Democrats. Even If Presi-
dent Truman steps down and the
Daff,neratg haaf fha rSft 80 tha vxnr