The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-07-20
Washington
News Notes
Russian Air Power
". S. Rockets
Russia and China

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Rus,
sian air show in Moscow earlier
in the month impressed American
observers - as ii was intended to
do. 1t demonstrated above all
else that the Russians have not
neglected conventional airpower
in spite of their obvious lead in
the missile and rockets field.
There are Americans who fear
that we have neglected conven-
tional airpower, and that we have
done so when we could ill afford
to, since we are behind in the
ICBM race. Among the mistakes
in following this policy-the
biggest was curtailment of the
BIO bomber program, they say.
There was a time Immediately
after President John Kennedy's
election when the BIO program
seemed headed for reinstatement.
But then - just as hopes were
risen - the Presidents budget
was presented - without a re.
quest for BIO fundsl
The Russians are obviously still
building new four engine jet
bombers. The best bomber now in
the U. S. arsenal is the B-58 Hust,
Ter. II repeatedly flies around
1900 miles an hour. Therefore, il
could reach Moscow, from a u S
base, in four hours, or slightly
more.
The BIO is designed to fly at
speeds of 1000 miles an hour. II
could travel the same distance in
two and a half hours. An ICBM
can travel 5000 miles in Is min
utes, but it usually requires
hours to successfully launch one
so the BIO might actually be q
quicker retaliatory weapon than
our somewhat untested and unre
liable ICBMs.
In view of the imminence of the
Berlin crisis, and the threat of a
showdown with the communists
in the near future, it is being rea
lized that our not vet ready rock
cts may be less valuable thar
our conventional air power-SAC
And those who argued that we
were getting the wagon ahead Oi
the horse by curtailing the bomb
er program before our rocket!
and missiles are ready see theil
fears justified in the recent dem
onstration of advanced Russian
aircraft.
Official Washington is interest
ing in reports of trouble between
Russia and Red China, thougl
the attitude is a Skeptical one. !
is believed that there are genu
inc differences, and that they ar
bitter, but the chance that tn
United States can gain out of tn
impasse is considered remote.
Meanwhile, it is thought tina
there might be heavy pressure o.
Nikita Krushchev at the moment
partly because of the Chinese dc
lection, to prove that his "coexi!
tence" and short-of-war polio
can make obvious gains.
If the Russian leader is u
against the wall, so to speak, an
must prove that he can achiev
gains over the democracies, h
might be tempted to push tn
Berlin crisis to a dangerous d.
gree and this is a worry anon
many. Washington students {
foreign affairs.
There is strong sentiment
some circles in favor of a meetin
with Krushchev, later this yea
on Berlin. The meeting, as col
templated, would be one anon
all the allies of Word War III. an
all questions about a peace treat
for Germany-including unifici
tion-would be up for discussion
Krushchev, of course, woul
probably snot agree to such
meeting, but the positive advoc;
cy of such a meeting, in respons
to Krushchev's demands on Be
lin, is one course of action TIL
country could take which woul
not be entirely negative.