From the S&S archives:
Ridgway lauds spirit of troops in Germany

FRANKFURT, June 25 (S&S) — "I have a renewed spirit of confidence."

In these words, Gen Matthew B. Ridgway, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, summarized his first official look at the American, French and British troops who form the first NATO line of defense in Germany.

During a press conference at Rhine-Main Air Base, ending his three-day visit with EUCOM troops and field commanders, Ridgway exuded the same feeling of pride that Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, whom he succeeded as SHAPE commander last month, frequently expressed about Allied forces in Germany.

The new SHAPE commander's suntanned face widened in an appreciative grin as he described his two-hour meeting this afternoon with American 2d Armd Div troops undergoing field training at Baumholder in the French Zone.

'Good Cooperation'

"I've just been looking at (Maj Gen) George Read's splendid command," he commented. "Two or three hours with the troops is like a vacation to me. The closer I get to men at the levels charged with execution of our policies, the more I see of fine spirit and good cooperation.

"It reminds me again that our primary purpose is aggression toward no one, that we carry out the NATO purpose to defend things which are basic."

Ridgway and Gen Thomas T. Handy, EUCOM commander-in-chief, arrived at Rhine-Main at 5:50 pm via liaison plane from Baumholder, and the SHAPE chief left 20 minutes later for his Paris headquarters via Constellation.

Next week, he revealed, he intends to visit Scandinavian countries in a continuation of his first overall look at his command.

Among those greeting Ridgway and Handy at the air base were Maj Gen Dean C. Strother, CG, 12th AF; Maj Gen Truman H. Landon, assistant chief of staff, USAFE; and Brig Gen Basil H. Perry, CG, Frankfurt Military Post.

An honor guard and color guard of the 60th Air Police at RhineMain and the 686th AF Band from Wiesbaden presented a short planeside review.

Ridgway told newsmen he felt it to be of the highest importance to "come to Germany and meet face-to-face the men who carry the responsibility for defense in the three zones here."

He said he is "full of admiration" for the British troops he saw Monday in the Luneburg area, commanded by Sir John Harding, and for the French troops of Gen Roger J. Noiret, whom he visited yesterday in Rastatt.

"And it was a pleasure," he added, "to renew contacts with Generals Handy, Strother, and (Manton S.) Eddy."

Ridgway expressed astonishment and pleasure at the degree of recovery by Germany since he was last here in 1945-46.

Notes Reconstruction

"I must comment on the reconstruction here," he said, "and on the apparent fine spirit of the people on the streets and in the fields. In the rural areas, there seems little trace left of the war. Some day, I'm going to be a farmer myself."

In his first visit, he pointed out, he was primarily interested in "getting a grasp of things from the men here who are thoroughly conversant with them."

"I am impressed with the tremendous amount of confidence these men have," the SHAPE commander noted, "and they in turn have renewed my spirit of confidence. This thing (NATO) has a fine foundation, and has come a long way.

"I don't deny that the tasks ahead are tremendous, but with our willingness and enthusiasm, I have no shadow of doubt what the outcome will be."