RUSSIAN AIR POWER LIVE ISSUE IN U.S.

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27666, 24 May 1955, Page 13

RUSSIAN AIR POWER LIVE ISSUE IN U.S.

[Specially Written for the N.Z.P.A. by

FRANK OLIVER}

NEW YORK, May 22. Air power is much in the political, if not the public, mind, as the West moves towards Big Four talks. This is because Washington has learned, somewhat to its surprise, that Russia has made great progress in the air.

It is generally conceded that America has been underestimating the scientific and production abilities of , the Soviet. A hot political row is expected to develop in Congress over . this matter, as air power is regarded as the key to arms supremacy. The possession of the greatest num- . ber of thermo-nuclear weapons is comforting only as long as the country possesses the power to deliver them — via overwhelming air power. The question already being raised in Congress is who controls the'air and a series of “hot” questions is being prepared for Pentagon officials when they appear before Congressional committees. Americans Startled Americans were startled by the air power of Russia, recently disclosed, especially their intercontinental jet bomber comparable to the American 852. It was a complete surprise tp Washington that this bomber, capable of reaching American targets, was even in limited production. The Pentagon announcement of the new Russian aircraft said that Russia had elected to expose these new aircraft, leaving people to draw the unI comfortable inference that there might be more advanced things not disclosed. I What disturbs many in Washington is that these disclosures of air power, plus Russia’s known advances in thermo-nuclear weapons, means that Russia, at the Four-Power talks, will be speaking from greater strength than had been thought possible. Hence it seems that America is in for yet another agonising reappraisal. Air power and its implications will ; never leave the minds of those roun the conference table, and many people i in Washington believe the Russian disi closure of her air power was made to impress France and Britain particularly with the fact that not only is all Europe vulnerable to Russian air attack, but also America, which had been considered the relatively safe arsenal of the democracies. The Russian disclosures have made Americans as well as foreign diplomats in Washington think that Mr Dulles was, perhaps, a trifle 4 too optimistic in his report to the nation when he returned from Europe. To many the talks, whenever they take place, begin to look tougher than they did at first, but also of course more important and even more urgent. It is clearly recognised here that America’s real strength is in her forward air bases in Europe and Asia, and that the principal aim of the Communists on both continents is to push back American air power as far as possible from their territories. At present the position is roughly

as if America and Russia were two powerful pugilists with the American having the longer reach by a foot and able to land a forceful blow before the Russian could get within dangerous reach. The Russian proposals would rob the American of that exceedingly useful extra foot of reach. Thus, every Russian proposal, no matter what part of the world it concerns, will be carefully considered by the Americans in relation to its effect upon vital American air power. And it is considered fairly certain that France and Britain view the Russian proposals similarly, for if the American Air Force were robbed of its forward bases and warning systems, which are part of ’them, then Britain and France would become even more vulnerable to Russian air attack.