U.S. Defence Programme "Serious And Realistic”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28748, 20 November 1958, Page 22

U.S. Defence Programme "Serious And Realistic”

The United States had an earnest desire for peace—but not at any price—and wished to play its full part in preserving the way of life that it believed in. said the Dominion president of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association (Mr K. W. Fraser) when he addressed members of the Christchurch Tin Hat Club on United States international and national defence programmes. Officials he met during an eight-week visit under a foreign leader exchange programme expressed a very sincere wish for the United States to do all that it could to support S.E.A.T.O. and any other pact of which it was a member, he said. Among the people there was a strong realisation that America, because of its sidle, know-how, and resources, was a leading partner in the pacts, but that all member countries, no matter how small, had to make their full contribution. “We can no longer say that we are only on the fringe of Southeast Asia; we are not, and make no bones about that—not only because we belong to 5.E.A.T.0., but because we have got to learn to know all these people, and those of other countries, such as Burma and Indonesia, which do not have to belong to the organisation,” Mr Fraser said.

S.E.A.T.O. Group Part of Mr Fraser’s visit was on a S.E.A.T.O. group programme and on his way to the United States he had an opportunity to discuss problems of defence in South-east Asia with representatives from Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Australia. The group met again in Washington where there were high level talks with State Department officials.

Discussing S.E.A.T.O. with senior officers of the three services he learned that they were going to “tremendous lengths” to teach servicemen about the people and countries which made up the organisation.

Describing visits he made to military installations and testing grounds, Mr Fraser said that these gave a good indication of just how serious and realistic a view the United States took of the matter of defence. He spoke about an amphibious warfare training centre where there were frequent simulated atomic explosions, “where you could not fail to learn the lesson” and where were they “really getting down to details’* with a huge mechanical floor map indicating movements of land troops, aircraft and ships. At the Wright Patterson airfield in Ohio, which was the supply base for the whole of the United States Air Force, he met members of the defence squadron which was part of Strategic Air Command. All members of the squadron wore battledress all the time and were “ready to go.”

Mr Fraser said he did not see the aircraft as they were all in the air.

He saw the testing and proving of new vehicles and weapons, including an improved atomic cannon at Aberdeen proving grounds in Maryland. Many of these weapons were on the “classified’’ list.

Mr Fraser described as “frightening” the new Starfighter F 194 which had a wing span of only 7ft, and which looked “just like a rocket.” This manned aircraft could attain a speed of Mach 2.2, and he had seen it climb vertically at 1000 miles an hour.

Referring to the rigorous training undertaken by reserve cadet officers from colleges, he said: “We will probably have to change our whole opinion about the Americans attitude to military training.”

Describing a vijit to th- headquarters of NORAD (North American Air Defence Command) Mr Fraser said that this was a “wonderful combined effort” by the Royal Canadian and United States Air Forces and had a strength of more than 200,000 men.

“I came away with the impression that if they are caught napping it will be a very remarkable thing,’’ he said.