FORMOSA STRAIT DEFENCES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27752, 1 September 1955, Page 11

FORMOSA STRAIT DEFENCES

Comment From U.S. Admiral

(Rec. 8 p.m.) m TAIPEH (Formosa). August 30. Vice-Admiral Alfred Pride said here today that United States and Chinese Nationalist strength in the Formosa area was keeping pace with Communist China’s continuing “development of installations.” Admiral Pride, who commands the United States 7th fleet in the Formosa Strait, gave an assurance that United States power in the area was great enough to handle any forseeable Communist moves. He made his appraisal of the current situation in response to questions submitted by the United Press. . “United States force strength in and about Formosa.” he said, “is substantially the same as last February. “The Communists seems to be continuing their development of installations on the mainland. The Nationalists continue to improve their installations and general state of readiness. Our forces continue to deploy and train to meet any situation that seems at all probable. There is little going on in the way of encounters etween hostile forces.” Asked about a reported Chinese Communist build-up in South China, Admiral Pride said:. “The Chinese Communist build-up m South China seems to have been directed toward I developing air installations ana communications.” , . , . . United States forces, he said, hr taken appropriate steps in redeplo - : ment to remain abreast of this bui*dU? Asked if he thought there had been I a dangerous weakening of United i States military power in the Far East i since the end of the Korean conflict, ' Admiral Pride answered ‘‘no. 1 He said he considered the Chinese I forces on Formosa “competent and well-trained, thanks to the industry and ability of the Military Assistance Advisory Group and of their own ! commanders.”