Evening star., 1963-02-07

Following Is a partial tert
OF Secretary OF Defense Nc
Ndmdrd's remarks at a press
conference yesterday on
Soviet military strength in
Cuba:
Good afternoon, ladies and
gentlemen: In recent days
questions have been raised in
the press and elsewhere re-
garding the presence Of often
sive weapons systems in Cuba.
I believe beyond any reason
able doubt that all such
weapons systems have been re-
moved from the island and
none have been reintroduced.
-. Since July /. over 400 recon-
naissance flights have been
flown over the island Of Cuba by
United States military aircraft.
These reconnaissance flights
provided the essential basis for
the national decisions taken
with respect to Cuba In Oc-
tober. They provided the basis
for the military preparations
necessary to support those de-
cisions. They provide the evi-
dence we were able to present
the world to document the basis
and the rationale of our action.
The reconnaissance flights
recorded the removal of the
offensive weapons systems from
Cuba. and they continued to
provide the foundation for our
conclusion that such weapons
systems have not been rein
troduced into the island. ..
Soviet Troops
:. We have recorded the
entry Of Soviet offensive weap-
ons systems into Cuba and we
have recorded their removal.
In addition, we have reported
the introduction into Cuba Of
a substantial quantity Of Sviet |
military personnel and Soviet
military equipment. defensive
arms.
Soviet military personnel on |
the island, including techni-
clans increased, we believe, to
a total Of approximately %, 900
by roughly the 1st of November. |
That total has been re-
duced by the Decentralization,
removal Of about 5000 men
from Cuba and their shipment |
to the Soviet Union, leaving a
total of about 1900 Soviet
military personnel, includ-
ing technicians in Cuba today.
Included in that total of
1900 are four Soviet combat |
forces. each force approximately
1000 to 1880 men in strength,
roughly 5000 men in total for
the four forces each force being
the equivalent approximately
of one Of our reinforced ba-
tallions.
Recently, our reconnaissance
has revealed that certain equip
ment Of these Soviet combat
forces, namely that associated
with the tactical rocket units,
has also started to be moved
out Of the island back to the |
Soviet Union.
Cover Island Every Week
The United States surveiI-
lance Is continuing and an ef-
fective high altitude surveil-
lance program covers the island
Of Cuba. Photographic coverage
Of the entire territory of Cuba
is obtained at least once a
week.
That coverage provides sur
veillance Of key areas, port
areas, airfields. naval bases,
crews, missile sites, Soviet
ground force garrisons, and
certain Of the navy logistical
centers.
In addition to this weekly
island wide coverage, indi-
vidual high altitude flights for
more detailed coverage Of spe-
cific objectives are scheduled
whenever receipt of intelligence
indicates the need for such ad-
ditional reconnaissance.
Low level reconnaissance air
craft are kept on a "a hour
alert basis for use whenever
required. And supplementing
this program, the recon-
naissance aircraft Of the United
States Navy continue to photo
graph all Soviet shipping arriv-
ing or departing from Cuba.
The Soviet Union did attempt
to establish clandestinely a
major offensive weapons base
in this hemisphere. The United
States was able to deter this
effort. and the United States
is now monitoring the remain
ing Soviet personnel and equip
ment in Cuba through recon-
naissance activities Of the type