Evening star., 1952-05-21
u. n. Stand in Korea
Aids Free Countries,
Truman Declares
BY the Asseeioted Press

Dy me ASSoeiofed PreSS
WEST POINT, N. Y, May 21.-
President Truman said yesterday
Korea has put the free world on
the right track Ito preserving our
freedom without paying the fright
full cost of world war"
Il believe we are well on the
way :" he said with sober but
unmistakable optimism. 1--WE are
on the right track"
He held out hope there may
still be an armistice in Korea but
insisted I'VE must also be alert
and ready to meet treachery or a
renewal of aggression If that
should come"
The President spoke at the
United States Military Academy's
150th anniversary celebration. He
told West Point cadets-the Ma
tion's future generals-that "as a
result of Korea, the free countries
are infinitely better prepared to
defend themselves than they were
two years ago."
Tempering his optimism at
points. he told the cadets:
But I don't want any one to
get the impression that there is
any basis for relaxing or letting
up. No one should assume
that the possibility of world war
has become remote"
Cites Big Soviet Force.
In his prepared speech, Mr..
Truman added:
"The forces Of the Soviet en-
pire are large. well-trained, and
equipped with modern weapons
including the atom bomb. The
Kremlin'S desire to dominate the
world is obviously unchanged"
To match the Kremlin's might,
Mr.. Truman said America has a
booming defense program, grow
Ing Air Force, modernized tanks,
and an expanded Navy. Then he
added tersely and ominously:
IAN atomic artillery piece has
been developed and tested and will
have to be reckoned with in the
future. The Navy is working on
its first atomic power submarine
Our overall atomic production
program is in excellent shape"
Driven Indoors by Rain.
Mr.. Truman came to West Point
by train. He spoke from a flag
decked platform in the academy's
huge field house. driven indoors
by cold rain.
Earlier in the day, the President,
ignoring the downpour, toured the
academy, peeking into the muzzle
Of a howit1er still hot from a 81
gun salute.
And with an old piano-player's
curiosity, he hit one or two sour
notes on an organ in. the chapel.
Then he let the 70-year-old or
ganist. Frederick c. Mayer, show
him how to do it right.
IF stayed here long enough,
you'd make an organist of me-"
said the President as he shook Mr..
Mayors hand in farewell.
Mr.. Truman lunched on turkey
and ham with the cadets and told
them not to let a President in their
midst scare or embarrass them.
He said he's trying his best to keep
them from ever becoming cannon
fodder"
Another Medal for Ridgway.
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway.
newly returned from Tokyo en-
route to succeed Gen. Eisenhower
in Europe. accompanied Presi-
dent Truman to West Point. At
the conclusion of his speech, Mr..
Truman personally awarded him
a second cluster to his Dis
tinguished Service Medal-in eff
feet. a third DSM.
Surveying the free world, Mr..
Truman saw signs of progress in
Japan. the Philippines, Indo-
China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia
and in Europe.
These signs Of progress are
not evidence that the battle for
freedom is won," he quickly added,
"only that we are on the way to
winning it. If we halt or falter
now. we could ruin the whole
structure Of peace and freedom
we have been so painfully build
ing"