U.S. Mobilisation May Have To Be Revised

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 August 1950, Page 5

U.S. Mobilisation May Have To Be Revised

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (Recd 6 pm) —New successes by the North Korean Army may compel a revision of American mobilisation plans. I High military planners have been talking recently of the probability that it will be late autumn, or early winter, before an additional National Guard Division can be brought into service under the present mobilisation plan; but that was before it began to appear that the Naktong River, which is the last water barrier on the perimeter of the Allied defence area, might not be held, and that still more desperate fighting might have to be done in the mountain positions closer to the key port of Pusan. A military spokesman in Washington still mantained emphatically todav that the present South Korean beach I head will be held until the time when a build up of strength will allow the beginning of a counter affensive. The United States is by no means down to the bottom of the barrel of regular army, National Guard and Marine Divisions, but she must now decide how much can be committed to the Korean war, and how much must be kept in reserve at home. She must i weigh the urgent needs for Korea ' against the danger that forces may be needed in a hurry to deal with an outbreak elsewhere. i Left in the United States are fotir I Army divisions, one Marine division | some smaller units and the National Guard. Four of 27 divisions of guards are now under orders for mobilisation.