DEFENCE OF FORMOSA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27442, 31 August 1954, Page 11

DEFENCE OF FORMOSA

Possible Use Of U.S. Airpower

LONDON, August 29. All the United States forces in a position to give help would join the United States 7th Fleet in defending Formosa if the Communists tried to invade the island, says the British United Press correspondent in Tokyo, quoting a senior United States military official. “This official did not rule out the possibility that United States ground troops will fight in defence of Formosa, although he referred primarily to air intervention.

“United States jet wings are based on the island of Okinawa and in Korea, Japan and other West Pacific bases. “The official also said that the Communists have withdrawn far more Chinese troops from North Korea than they have reported to the Korean Neutral Nations Commission. The bulk of these forces has retired only to Manchuria and North China. “The official said that this Chinese 'withdrawal had made possible the' recent United States decision to withdraw four divisions from South Korea. “He added that although the Chinese forces could I return to Korea , quickly, there have been frequent , warnings that If the Communists attack again in Korea then the war will not be confined to Korea, and that ; there might be retaliation against : Communist China.’’

A British United Press correspondent in Taipeh says that it is reported that units of the Russian Far Eastern Fleet have been moved southwards to the Chusan Islands near Shanghai, and to Hainan in the Tonking Gulf..