Evening star., 1963-01-26
Stennis Plans
Probe of Red
Troop Force
BY GEORGE SHERMAN
Star staff Writer

Senator Stennis, Democrat
of Mississippi, has announced
that his Preparedness Subcom-
mittee will investigate what he
calls the rapid "build-up of
military might in Cuba"
The Senator made his de-
cision only hours after he
heard Secretary of State Rusk
and Central Intelligence Agency
Director John A. McCone give
a two and one-half hour top
secret briefing to the Senate
Foreign Relations Subcommit-
tee on Latin America.
Senator Stennis has set no
date for his hearings to begin.
But preliminary work is under
way. And sources close to the
Senator said that top military
and intelligence officials would
be called into the closed door
sessions within two weeks.
Castro Strengths Threat
In his statement, the SEN
ator said The preparedness
group would look into Fidel
CaSCros military strength, the
nature OF his weapons and the
threat wnicn Cuoa may pose to
une hemisphere.
Reports winch have come
to me indicate that the con-
tlnued presence and buildup
Oh military might IN Cuba is
rapidly converting Castro's
to,ces into the second most
powerful military power in
this hemisphere" senator
Stennis SAID.
He added that since these
forces are controlled by the
"noSClle rulers OF Communist
Russia" " is imperative to
examine the threat and the
StaCe Of united states pre-
ldreuneSS 10 counter 1t.
WnlIe all participants at the
nUeIIlgenCe OIIe4lng yesterday
ieIuSeu 10 give ueLaIlS, several
5CLIaUOrS IaUer lnuIcated sur
PRISE ana SHOCK over Wnat they
were Uoid Dy Mr.. Rusk and
A1r. McCone.
Enormous" Base
Senator Aiken, Republican of
VeIlnOnJ, told reporters after
Une meeting tnaJ ne personally
DeleveS soviet Russia has built
an enormously ssrong military
and pontlcal base IN Cuba"
sIIIce lasI July. Ana it was
geG.Ihg stronger, he added.
Senator oymlngton, Demo-
crdC VI Missouri, Salu that he
nau been oseply impressed bS
Vne nign percentage Of Soviet
YGISUn4Iel III WnaG re called the
soviet ar complex IN cuba.
buC air aJJendlng senators
car.iulIy steered Gear OF saying
they tney nae heard anything
70 conradlcC President Ken
nedys analysis OF the military
situation IN CUBA at his press
conference Thursday.
The President salu that about
$4,000 10 1900 Soviet person.
mel still remain on the island
TO operate anti-alrcraft mis-
slles and other technical in
stailations. He added that Cuba
remains under daily surveil-
lance, and that no evidence
indicates the return of often
slye weapons TO CUBA.
Keating's Estimate
Senator Keating. Republican
OF new York, has declared that
ne has information. confirmed
by official overnmen
sources" that the Soviet Union
mas poured 10000 men and mu-
nitions into Cuba and that a
buildup Of installations is con-
tinuing.
He said the munitions in
clude warplanes capable OF
carrying nuclear warheads, and
with a range embracing many
target areas in the United
states and Latin America.
But the Senators who ques-
toned Mr.. Rusk and Mr.. Nc
Cone indicated that they had
received no information about
fashionable material" being in
Cupa.
Senator Humphrey, Demo-
crat Of Minnesota. said that
the briefing had not revealed
amy evidence OF new strength"
beyond that already mentioned
by the President.
He appealed for a partisan
See CUBA, Page A-S