The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-08-17
Washington
News Notes

FiIibvsfer: Anderson & Russell
WASHINGTON. DC. - The
latest military estimates of the
strength of communist forces in
the Berlin area are encouraging.
Whereas NATO headquarters has
been briefing military and civil
ian audiences alive, for twelve
years, that the Russians had ITS
divisions available for quick &C
ton, this figure now seems mis-
leading.
II Is probably true that the Rus
slams could call up this many di-
visions but whether they could
get even this many into action
soon, in Germany, or around Ber-
lin, is highly doubtful. NATO
briefers have been saying for
years that the Russians had It's
divisions available for quick use
and another lbs which would be
put in the field in a month or
several months.
These gloomy fosecasts may
have been overly pessimistic.
Now the word in Washington is
that communist forces immedi-
ateiy available to fight - in case
of the worst, in the Berlin crisis,
are not too much greater than
NATO forces.
Since NATO forces number
only some twenty-plus divisions,
this is quite a change from the
picture painted only a few years
back. The communists could, of
course, call upon their vast man.
power resources in any continu-
ing fighting but for the sudden
outburst of trouble over Berlin,
allied leaders are now saying
their forces might be able to
stand their ground for a brief
period - even without resorting
to atomic weapons.
The United States had five divi-
sions in Germany, the Germans
eight, the British three, the
French two. The Beigians and the
Dutch have two divisions each
available. This is a total of %
divisions and though some of
these divisions are not up to
strength, they are fairly we'll
trained and integrated under the
NATO command.
Secretary of State Dean Rusk
sought last week in Paris TO per
suade our NATO allies to build
up their forces to full strength
Levels. The GERMANS may have
another two divisions available
for the defense of western Eur
ope by the end of the year. In
addition, the United States could
airlift several divisions to Eur
ope on short notice.
The French do not seem able
to do much, being tied down in
North Africa, but the British are
expected to make an effort to
strengthen their forces even
though the economic pinch is
telling on the British military eff
fort.
But even though this much is
being done, this is a relatively
small force compared TO what
the Russians could move into the
field given some time. The hope
of the West is that satellite di-
visions, such as East German di-
visions would not be reliable in
any Russian attack on West Ger
many.
In the very first weeks, though,
the military prospect is being
outlined as less hopeless than
former estimates pictured it. And
there is talk that If trouble start
ed over Berlin, nuclear weapons
would not be used - at least for
a time.
Senator Clinton Anderson, New
Mexico Democrat who authored
the change of rules in the SEN
ate threatening to provoke a fill
buster. is now ready to postpone
final battle until next January.
I'D rather see this thing de-
layed until January rather than
be brought up too late in the ses-
sion," he said, to this newspapers
Washington bureau. TOO many
Senators are now talking about
going home, going on committee
trips, etc" Anderson said he
thought a filibuster late in the
session would have a better
chance of success than one in
January.
Senator Richard Russell, leader
of southern forces who want no
further change in Senate rules,
agreed with Anderson on one
point.
Hes thinking right - that our
chances might be better tate in
the session than at the begin
ming" Russell told this news
papers Washington office. And
the veteran Georgia legislator,
added: Majority Leader Mans
field says he's going to bring up