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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, February 11, 1953
Offensive Could Win Korean War-Van Fleet
Tokyo—(U.P.)—Gen. James A. Van Fleet said today the United Nations could launch an offensive and break the military deadlock in Korea.
Gen. Van Fleet commented on the war to reporters while flying from Korea to Japan. Earlier today, he relinquished command of the 8th Army, which he has headed for the past 22 months.
After a 24-hour stop-over in Tokyo, the 60-year-old general will head for the United States and retirement. His wife will meet him in Honolulu and from there they will sall Feb. 19 to San Francisco.
Reporters asked Gen. Van Fleet if the 8th Army is now capable, in terms of manpower and material, of mounting a major offensive that would break the present military deadlock.
"Any offensive would break the military deadlock. The deadlock which is one of our choosing and not imposed by the enemy," he replied.
"Could the 8th Army, by a sustained offensive, destroy sufficient enemy manpower and material to seriously injure the war-making potential of Communist China?" reporters asked.
"It would depend upon the Chinese Communists—what investment in enemy manpower and material they would be willing to make to seriously insure such an offensive."
"Does this mean the more they throw at the UN, the more the allies could chop up?"
"Yes."
Gen. Van Fleet said the use of atomic weapons for tactical use in the field "unquestionably would save friendly lives in the immediate situation of any battlefield."
He also said a concerted attack by the 2,000 planes the Reds are reported to have in Manchuria "would hurt the 8th Army only temporarily, but it would recover quickly and strongly."
President Calls Trade Meeting
Washington — (U.P) — President Eisenhower called 12 top officials of Congress and the Administration together today to discuss a program of "more trade and less aid" for free nations.
Presidential Press Secretary James C. Hagerty said he was instructed not to give out any information about the (2 p.m. CST) White House meeting.
Extension of the Reciprocal Trade Act, due to expire June 12, and a streamlining of U.S. customs regulations have been listed on President Eisenhower's "must" legislative program for this session.
Senate Republican leader Robert A. Taft described today's meeting as a "pipe-smoking session," indicating that it was a general discussion of ideas with no purpose of reaching specific decisions.
Besides Taft, Congressional leaders represented were Chairman Eugene D. Millikin (R.-Colo.) of the Senate finance committee and chairman Daniel Reed (R.-N.Y.) of the House ways and means committee.
The administration contingent included Foreign Aid Administrator Harold E. Stassen, Secretary of Commerce Sinclair Weeks, Secretary of the Treasury George M. Humphrey, Secretary of Labor Martin P. Durkin, Undersecretary of State Walter Bedell Smith, and Underecretary, of Agriculture True D. Morse.
Barr to Open Radio Series
Dean Harold G. Barr of the School of Religion, will be the first speaker in this semester's series of talks, "Sociology on the Air." Dean Barr's talk entitled "Religion and Society" which will be given in connection with Religious Emphasis week will be heard at 4 p.m. Sunday over KLWN.
Sunday's talk will mark the beginning of the third year that "Sociology on the Air" has been on KLWN. The University of Kansas was the first American school to sponsor a series of sociology talks over a commercial station. The program is produced by the department of sociology and anthropology under the direction of Carroll D. Clark, chairman.
Other speakers this term will be as follows:
February 22, E. Jackson Baur, associate professor of sociology; March 1, Dean Burton W. Marvin of the William Allen White School of Journalism; March 8, George Anderson, chairman of the history department; March 15, E. O. Stene, professor of political science; March 22, Seba Eldridge, professor of sociology; March 29, E. Gordon Ericksen, assistant professor of sociology.
April 19, Rupert I. Murrill, instructor in sociology and anthropology; April 26, Richard Mikulski, instructor in Romance languages; May 3, George B. Smith, dean of the University; May 10, Charles K. Warriner, instructor in sociology; May 17, Nino Lo Bello, instructor in sociology, and May 24, Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, basketball coach.
Rain Hampers Rescue Work
Amsterdam. The Netherlands — (U.P.) Cold driving rain ished Holland's flood areas today hampering rescue operations and efforts to plug holes in the dikes. The weather bureau forecast a gale and heavy spring tides for late this week or early next week.
Brakes Applied to Blockade Demands
Washington — (U.P.)—The Eisenhower administration gently applied the brakes today to mounting Congressional demands for a blockade and bombing of Manchuria.
At the same time, it made clear it was not finally ruling out either move. It even hinted the demands served the excellent purpose of keeping the Communists guessing on U.S. strategy.
Gen. Omar N. Bradley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, warned that the naval blockade many Reasons for might touch off, World War III.
In testimony before the Senate
Foreign Relations committee, Bradley said this country would run into trouble trying to police the sea lanes to British Hong Kong but said otherwise there was no legal barrier to blockading the China mainland, including the Soviet-leased ports of Dairen and Port Arthur.
Senators said Bradley's testimony echoed the opinions he gave in the 1951 MacArthur dismissal hearings when he said a blockade could be taken as "an act of war" and would be ineffective "unless it was a United Nations blockade, not just a U.S. blockade."
Sen. John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
a leading committee Democrat, said he hoped reluctant U. S.allies "might go along with the blockade idea" if this country pressed the issue "very strongly" before the United Nations.
The mounting fears of jittery European allies was believed one of the reasons that Bradley was careful not to give the congressional debate any further encouragement.
The debate, first major foreign policy wrangle in Congress since the advent of the new Republican era, followed Mr. Eisenhower's order lowering the 7th Fleet bar to Chinese Nationalist attacks on the Communist mainland.
Seoul, Korea—(U.P).-United Nations airpower must be strengthened sharply if Allied ground troops launch a major offensive to form a new battleline at Korea's narrow waist, the commander of the 5th Air Force said today.
"If you hoped to give the same iron-clad air cover to ground troops there that we give them now, it would take a greatly-increased Air Force." Barcus said.
Lt. Gen, Glenn O. Barcus told the United Press that despite some popular "armchair theories," it would not be "simple" to hold a line north of Pyongyang once U.N. armies reached their goal.
The general listed a string of key air problems in addition to the difficulties that infantrymen would face if such an offensive were launched.
4. "Reducing the size of enemy-held Korea would cut down our scanty supply of targets."
"We could establish temporary bases in a matter of days," Barcus said, "but it would be very tempting for the Communists to throw more of their air force into action."
General Says More Airpower Needed for Korean Offensive
Barcus refused to comment on the possibility that a major offensive
1. "Ground forces would be much more vulnerable to air attack from Manchurian bases across the Yalu river."
3. "Allied air bases would be more liable to attack from across the Yalu."
2. "The Reds would have a simplified supply situation and would be able to store troops and supplies close behind the line, yet within attack-free Red China."
Kull Resigns ASC Post
Walt Rickel, president of the Inter-fraternity council Monday received the resignation of Ron Kull, journalism senior, as representative from IFC to the All Student Council at the regular meeting of IFC last night. Dick Verbrugge was elected by the council to replace him. Scholarship reports were given and several correspondences were read in further business of the meeting.
New York—(U,P)—Tugboat crews went back to work in full force today under a new agreement ending the costly 10-day strike which had forced many huge ocean liners to dock without aid.
Tugboat Strike Ends In New York Harbor
would require the UN to carry the air war into Manchuria.
A back-to-work movement started last night after Local 333 of the AFL Longshoremen's Union and the tugboat operators settled the final dispute issue in a contract covering 3,500 workers. Crewmen will get a general 17-cent per hour wage increase and fringe benefits.
Phone 61
So long as the present line is held, Barcus said, his 5th Air Force would require little enlargement.
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