Chiang’s Air Force May Be Armed With A-Bomb

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27861, 9 January 1956, Page 9

Chiang’s Air Force May Be Armed With A-Bomb

®ec. 11 p.m.) MANILA, January 7. Mr Donald A. Quarles, the United States Air Force Secretary, said on Arrival in Manila today that the Chinese Nationalist Air Force might be £ven atom bombs if the Chinese Communists attacked Formosa. Mr Quarles, who flew in from TaiI*h. the Chinese Nationalist capital, confirmed that the Communists were definitely shifting their armed strength £ the Far East, but the United States, said, was not very much concerned *nh this development. _.,He told reporters at a press conpf*vCe. shortly after conferring with Philippine defence officials at Army headquarters that he was very opti-

mistic that there would not be a general war this year. Mr Quarles said it would seem most unwise for Communist China to attack Formosa. . x . •Chinese Nationalist jet fighterbombers. he said, might handle atom bombs should war break out. Although the Communists were building up naval and air forces in the Far East, “we are equally strong.” he said “We are out to make it unprofitable for an enemy to start a war,” he continued. “We will not start a war. and the Communists would be very foolish indeed to start one.” Mr Quarles, who was accompanied bv a group of American officials, is on a* tour of the Far East and of Southl east Asia.