Operation "Big Lift" has received wide publicity in the United States as a demonstration of the speed with which the world's mightiest imperialist power can plunge its forces into another war on any continent.
Some 16,000 men were ferried from the United States to Germany and France in 63 hours and 30 minutes. Since this was only a practice opera= tion it was not geared to top speed. In war, according to one commander, the time could be cut to 36 hours and an entire division could be taken across the Atlantic every three days.
David Lawrence, a well-known reactionary American columnist, in com= menting on the maneuver said that "when the treaty banning certain nuclear tests was signed recently, the military strategists did not stop thinking of the prospect of war." [New York Herald Tribune October 23.] © |
He noted that the United States is spending about $1,000,000,000 a year to maintain American troops in Europe and that the total bill since the end of World War II now amounts to $50,000,000, 000.
The troops that were transported in Operation "Big Lift" are scheduled to take part in mock nuclear war games to be staged by forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from October 30 to November 5, a
The world will thus have an opportunity to see how well prepared the Allied armies are, with the help of fresh forces. from Texas, to engage in. a niclear war in the’ heart. of Europe, 4 4 2. 2 7. 7 :
FRENCH NUCLEAR