N.A.T. O. Was Six Divisions Under Strength

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 11

N.A.T. O. Was Six Divisions Under Strength

(N ■ZJ’.A.-Reater—Copvrifffet) PARIS, November 14. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in central Europe until recently had been so deficient in men, equipment and supplies that they were effectively about six divisions below paper strength, the Supreme Commander (General Lauris Norstad) revealed yesterday.

Twenty-one divuions had been on the N-A-T.O. strength, but they had the effectiveness of up to only 16 divisions, he said. Now the strength was to be raised to 25 divisions, and because ot new efforts—“in some cases extraordinary efforts’’—uxMt of it would be combat effective, he said. General Nocdstad mpde his disclosures while addressing the NAT.O Parliamentary conference in Paris. Mere Effective

By January 1, the effectiveness of the N.A.T.O. forces in Europe would have been increased by more than 25 per cent since the Berlin crisis, he said. He laid down as a basic principle that the NATO, force must be, equipped with conventional and nuclear weapons in proper proporuon. It must »lso have a nuclear capability which, when the situation demanded could be joined “promptly and effectively’’ with the conventional effort to force a pause and halt an aggression. General Norstad said that when strength was built up to 25 divisions, individual land force components would consist of reinforced battalions of infantry with light conventional artillery weapons and supporting arms and services, all of which would be transportable by air. Atomic support units would also be available if required, equipped with the “Honest John’’ or similar types of weapon. General Norstad said he

had worked out toe following general priorities:— To strengthen troops and equipment levels of existing combat units; To add necessary combat units, not at present available, to bring strength in Europe closer to the target of 30 divisions; To add combat and service support units and supplies, at a minimum level; and To improve the status of reserves and reinforcements. He said toe United tSates

was stockpiling equipment in Europe to mechanise infantry units so tost additional divisions could be flown in within • matter of days and be mobile. The Secretary General of N.A.T.O. (Dr. Dirk Stikker) warned that if the West yielded to Russian bullying and terrorism in Berlin it would encourage them to come back a year or two later "to collect more blackmail by the same tactics.'* He warned against a “why die foe Berlin” attitude, saying Berlin would only be the occasion, not the cause, of a war “which I do not expect to occur.”