Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-10
Aiming India
InStagesUrged
ByU. ). Study
BY FRED S. HOFFMAN
Associated Press staff Writer


Military members Of q United
State mission which surveyed
midas critical arms needs re-
portedly have recommended q
three stage aid plan that
could extend for years.
Beyond emergency patchup
measures TO bolster the out
numbered and outgunned
Indians in their border dispute
with Communist China. the
United States experts we're said
to have proposed broader re-
building steps for next year,
and fundamental moderniza-
ton actions to continue per-
haps for years ahead:
Dollar figures were kept
secret, but there was informed
speculation that 1t might cost
81 billion to bring midas out
dated arms and military organ
ization up to standard.
Emergency help rushed to
India by this country so far
was said by qualified sources to
total nearly SIS million.
Winter Clothing Needed
Gen. Paul D. Adams, chief
Of the United States Strike
Command and senior military
officer on the United States
mission which returned recently
from India, was said to have
listed winter clothing as the
first and most pressing need
for midas fighting men. Many
were rushed into the noun
famous north still wearing
light dress suitable to the heat
Of the lowlands.
Gen. Adams was described as
deeply impressed with the cali
Der Of the Indian troops and
their officers.
It was considered significant,
United States sources said, that
the Indian soldiers forced to
retreat before heavy Chinese
attacks often brought back
their weapons. This indicated
they were disciplined and not
routed in panic.
The immediate need is to
furnish light weapons and gear
that can be carried on a SOL
dier's back at high attitudes
and In mountainous terrain.
tumble Of Weapons
United States military au-
thorities were appalled, to find
that Indian units we're equipped
with q jumbled collection Of
weaponS British, United
States and Czech-made-with
as many as three different
calibers.
The battles have been fought
as high as $4,000 feet in the
mountains and American au-
thorities said 1t has taken about
three weeks for the Indian
troops to adjust.
Their Chinese foes, on the
other hand, already were &C
climated to fighting where the
air is thin.
India should have little
trouble getting the pick Of her
manpower in expanding her
900 900 man army. United
States sources said.
Because of the higher stand
ard of living in midas armed
forces than among the popu-
lation as q whole. there are
said to be about 800 applicants
for each opening in the ranks.
The small Indian Air Force
reported to number only about
800 fighters and .bombers-is
by pilots averaging
more than 1000 Jet flight hours
each and their proficiency is
rated high.
But they fly a mixture of
over-age planes-10-year-old
Vampire and Mystere fighters
and Canberra bombers.
So far, both sides have re-
Trained from air operations In
the border conflict. But II this
should change, the Indian Air
Force could hardly stand by it
self against o Chinese Com
force estimated to total
about 5000 planes, many mod
ern Russian-built MIG fighters.
About the kindest thing that
United States military men said
Of the previous Indian military
leadership under ousted Defense
Minister v. X. Krishna Menon
was that 1t was incompetent.