Evening star., 1936-01-28

planes are now under construction
and this includes planes for the Ma
tional Guard and the Organized Re-
serves. The estimate now is that ap-
proximately TIT modern airplanes will
be in the Army's possession by July
OF this year. How shockingly weak
is our air defense, can be best under
stood when we recall the fact that
special civilian and military boards
headed by former Secretary Of War
Newton D. Baker, appointed by our
Government to make a study, have re-
ported that our minimum need Is
1920 planes for the Army air force.
Now as to the Navy air craft. The
number of planes on December 81
was 1868. of which BIT are modern
or semi modern and include training
planes, and the number Of planes on
order to be built this year is 63S. The
necessary proper naval air defense Is
fixed at 1910 planes. Happily. be-
cause of President Roosevelt's special
interest in this problem, the last three
years have brought a marked change
with respect to our own national de-
fense embracing the Army. Navy and
our air force. The policy of rigid
economy at the expense of national
defense has been abandoned by the
present administration. Very definite
strides toward strengthening our ma
tional defense have been made. Pres
ident Roosevelt's experience as AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy during
the World War has given him a
knowledge and understanding OF our
national defense needs that has re-
suited in a new and forward-looking
program.
With respect to the Army. fast
modern tanks and combat cars are
being procured and our forces are
being equipped with weapons Of in
creased range and fire power. The
Secretary of War has recommended
to the present Congress a Regular
Army Of $4,000 officers and 10000
enlisted men. increases in the strength
and an extension of the training OF
the National Guard and Organized
Reserves. He asks that 800 new mil
itary airplanes be procured annually
for five years. Even when we include
the trained Reserves, which in the case
Of the United States includes the
National Guard as well as the Officers
Reserve Corps, we find that our or
gani7ed military forces comprise only
one-third Of per cent Of our total
population, and Italy has close to Is
per cent Of her population in arms,
and even Sweden, a peace-loving ma
ton, has organized military forces OF
IS per cent of her entire population.
Other Armies Are Huge.
The British Empire has 100000
soldiers in active service and 632 900
in trained reserves and $4,000 in its
separate air force. Germany has
100000 soldiers In active service and
trained reserves reported as 1,850,000
France has 100000 men in her regu-
lar army and 5,500000 in trained re-
serves and $4,000 in her separate air
force. Italy has approximately l.
200,0 900 soldiers in active service and
more than 100000 in trained re-
serves, and more than 100000 in its
separate air force. Japan has q
standing army Of 100000 and active
reserves Of nearly 100000. Spain
reports q standing army Of more than
100000 and more than 100000 in
reserves. Poland, standing army
Of more than 26O,000 and nearly l.
500, 900 in reserves.
Turning now to the Navy, Presi-
dent Coolidge, following the failure
Of the Geneva Disarmament Confer
ence In 1925. took steps to correct ap-
palling dificiencies in our own naval
defense. Under President Hoover
there was q suspension. but President
Roosevent has pushed forward new
naval construction with the result
that during 1893, 100000 tons of ships