Evening star., 1954-04-20
Bridges Cites
Indo-ChinaPeriI
In Talk foDAR
Says U. S. Security
Hinges on Fote Of
Garrison in Hills

00rrIS0n IN niIIS
Senator Bridges. Republican.
of New Hampshire, told the
Daughters of the American Rev.
olution last night that military
security of the United States,
and perhaps survival, depend
on the face of a small garrison
in the hills of Indo-China.
Senator Bridges was principal
speaker at the opening session
of the SD OAR Continental
Congress in Constitution Hall.
Points to Red Plans.
The legislator compared the
present crisis in Indo- China to
Japan's one-time ambition to
command the Pacific and Asia.
He stressed the Soviet plans TO
conquer Asia and gain command
Of the Pacific, eventually jeop-
ardiZing the results of this coun-
try'S victory In the Pacific in
World War II.
Senator Bridges cited Great
Britain and France as two Euro
pean countries WHICH have not
yet wholly recognized" the
United States unique interests"
in the Far East.
"The fact that they have not
understood our vulnerability to
attack from a hostile power with
all Asia at its back and the Pa
cific IN its grasp weakens and
puts to naught the common effort
in Korea" he told the Daughters.
Our failure to achieve vic
tory in Korea" he declared. has
merely transferred the under
lying conflict, which must finally
be resolved one way or other. to
Indo-China."
Delegates Applaud Statement.
Delegates roundly applauded
the Senator's contention that if
the United States Government
and the United Nations had
accepted the military Judgment
of Gen. Douglas Macarthur and
not abstained from a military
decision" there would be mo
crisis in Indo-China today"
Senator Bridges said the pres
ent administration views the
United States vital interests in
the Pacific realistically
I'VE now have in Washington
he said. "a more clearly defined,
more truly American approach
to the problem of safeguarding
American interests when they lie
under challenge"
He congratulated the Daugh-
tiers on their early stand on
communism and told them, THE
years have justified your position
on this issue
The Senator recalled that. be-
cause of the OARS past reso-
lutions against communism he
had seen you spurned. seen
you ridiculed and seen you
abused"
Recalls Early Efforts.
Miss Carraway recalled that,
for longer than 80 years. the
OAR "at first like voices crying
in the wilderness. have warned
against communism.
Setting the keynote for the
entire Congress, Miss Carraway
spoke on THE Spirit of Amer
ica."
She pointed out the organiza-
tion's three main objectives are
historical. patriotic and educa-
tional.
Miss CarraWay warned against
Americans bankrupting the Ma
ton by trying to cover too
much outside territory.
Our Government has perhaps
tried too hard to help too many.
covering too much outside terri
tory, until our economy is
strained" she said.
Miss Carraway called upon the
Daughters to carry on the fight
against the tyrannies of dicta-
torShip, even though they may
be clothed today in new guise
or disguise"
Marine Band Performs.
The Marine Band Orchestra,
under the baton of 1t. Col.
William F. Santelmann. provided
background music for last nights
colorful opening session.
Greetings to the Daughters
were extended by Brig. Gen.
Louis w. Prentiss, District En-
gineer Commissioner; Arthur A.
de la Houssaye, president general
of the National Society Sons of
the American Revolution, and
Mrs. Charles Carroll Haig, ma
tional president of the National
Society of Children of the Amer
lean Revolution.
The Rev. Edward l.. r. Elson.
minister of the National Presby-
terian Church, of which Presi-
dent Eisenhower Is a member,
gave the invocation.
ca. AI.:k>./. C4>