Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-10

The formal statement which has
been issued by the President should
mufiie some Of the louder alarm bells
that have been ringing since, the
Russians fired their satellite into outer
space. For this White House statement,
presumably put together with care ana
precision, brings the whole business into
some perspective and refutes few of
the more panicky interpretations of
Russia's notable achievement.
Mr.. Eisenhower Is not dismayed by
the fact that the Soviet Union has been
first to launch q satellite. Granting that
1t has some propaganda value, the Pres
ident sees nothing In the satellite
launching at this stage Of development"
which Is significant as far as the Sc
curity OF the United States Is concerned.
Our own satellite program, he says, has
never been conducted as a race with
other nations, and is progressing accord
ing to schedule. We plan to IRE "test
vehicle" in December OF this year, and
1t is expected that our first fully instru-
mented" satellite will be launched this
coming March,
II these expectations prove to be
well-founded. We see no basis for alarm
in the mere fact that the Russians have
beaten us to the satellite punch. II
there is valid basis for alarm, It will be
found in the implications Of this ac-
compliShment. What does 1t signify
with respect to Russian progress, as
compared to our own. in the perfection
OF long-range ballistic missiles? In this
respect the White House statement is
less explicit and less reassuring.
Mr.. Eisenhower emphasized that our
satellite program has been Kept separate
from our -balliStic missile program, and
has not had the same high priority. Had
the two been merged, he said, we "could
have produced an orbiting United States
satellite before now. but to the detri-
ment Of scientific goals and military
progress" The Russians, however, have
been able to launch their satellite and
also. apparently. to outdiStance US in
ballistic missile progress. The critical
question is: How far ahead are they?
The President did not give any an
swer to this He said the launching of
the satellite proves the possession by the
Russians Of "a very powerful thrust in
their rocketry." And when he was asked
at his news conference whether he was
satisfied with our progress in the missile
field, he replied: -. can't say that
am dissatisfied. can say this:
wish we were further ahead and knew
more as to accuracy and as to the
erosion and the heat-reSistant qualities
Of metals, and all the other things we
have to know about. / wish we knew
more about 1t at this moment"
We would assume from this that
the Russians. II they have successfully
teSt-fired an intercontinental missile,
know more about these things than
we do. And while this, II true, does not
necessarily herald any early shift in the
balance Of military power, 1t certainly
does mean that we had better stop our
squabbling and devote our full energies
to catching up In the missile race-for
this one Is a race, and make no mistake
about 1t.
In view Of this, we welcome the
indication from the new Secretary Of
Defense. Neil H. McElroy, that q greater
effort will be made to eliminate bottle
necks" in the missile program. He did
not say what the bottlenecks are, but,
whatever their nature, the Russians
have served notice on US that they are
q luxury we can no longer AFFORD.