The Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1948 BASTION OF THE WESTERN WORLD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14570, 14 January 1948, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1948 BASTION OF THE WESTERN WORLD

Short but .significant reports have been coming out of the Eastern Mediterranean during the last few days, which show yer\ plainly that the United States is quite determined that the limit of Soviet influence for the future will be the northern frontiers of Greece and Turkey

In addition to monetary aid and supplies under the Marshall plan, Greece is to be strengthened in other ways so that, in the future, she may well prove to be an impregnable bastion of the western world. With the aid of American money and American military experience and equipment the Greek.army is to be built up. Twelve thousand men are to be added to the regular forces, and these, together with thirty new battalions of the National Guard, are to be trained and adequately armed, particularly with such weapons as mountain guns which the Greek terrain demands in active operations. The United States' has made no secret of its intention of sending all the equipment needed to enable the Greek army to defeat the rebels.

There is a United States staff group in Greece at the present time, and the general in charge apparently sees the situation so well in hand that "he was able a" few days ago to predict confidently the defeat of the Soviet-supported guerillas within the next six months. As one step towards this end, tiff first group of U.S. officers, who will be employed, presumably, in training the new Greek units, is due to arrive there sometime before the end of the present month. •

The gift of six gunboats will strengthen the Greek naval forces and enable them to keep closer watch on their own seaboard, particularly on the lonian coastline which is shared with Albania

notoriously sympathetic with any movement aimed at the downfall of Western democracy, and an active supporter of the guerillas. It is safe to assume that such small craft are of more use to Greece at the present time than battleships would be. It is a fact not without significance, .particularly at the Kremlin where it is intended that it tSiould be noted, that an American naval squadron is at present exercising in*the lonian Sea. The brief announcement that some, of the aircraft operating from the carrier Midway have been equipped to carry an atom bomb can be interpreted as another broad hint to Russia and her satellites that America means business. If there was any doubt on this score the fact that a thousand more U.S. marines are being sent to the Mediterranean should dispel it.

Present and future events in Greece will have a most important bearing on the peace and security of the 'Western World.