Evening star., 1936-12-02
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er states and Canada.
Member Of the Associated Press.
An Orgy of Armaments.

At no period since the World War has
there been so widespread a program Of
rearmament as now is manifest through
out Europe and Asia. 1t is sad COM
mentary on the breakdown Of the ma
tons laborious striving for collective
security and disheartening proof that
peoples continue to put their faith in
force for preservation of peace. Almost
simultaneously within the past few days
Germany, Japan and Soviet Russia have
disclosed plans for maintenance of ire
mendous fighting establishments. Gen.
eral Goering makes bold to proclaim
that NaZi ornaments have already
reached point that makes Germany
stronger than in 1914. The boast in
corporated a ringing appeal to Germans
to take to the sword again, if necessary,
whereupon it was hinted that "the final
sacrifice" might be required to accom-
plish the realization of German needs
for more room in the sun. Throughout
Goering's belligerent observations ran
the thought that the Reich must remain
invincible.
On the same day that these German
thunderbolts were released Russian mill
tary leaders fired the enthusiasm of the
An-Soviet Congress at Moscow by mar
rating the amazing expansion of the
red army. Referring to German plans
to train $4,000 aviators, Stains generals
announced that the U. S. S. r. would
retaliate by training 100000. Then it
was declared that the Soviet air feet
today is the largest in the world, with
more than 1000 available planes, or four
times as many as in 1882. Hundreds of
new types have a speed of 280 miles an
hour and in the near future there will
be machines travelling at 375 miles.
Powerful as is the combined air force
which the German-Japanese allies could
mobilize, Soviet leaders contend that the
Russians are daily becoming more and
more capable of outstripping anything
that could be pitted against them.
Japan chooses the same hour to an
an army equal to any force the Soviet
could send East for war purposes. To
that end, almost half of the 1937-38
Japanese budget is devoted to record
breaking military, as we'll as naval, ap-
propriations The Japanese say there
are already LOCO red planes in ASIA to-
gether with fifteen divisions of infantry
and 100 tanks. Japan pleads that it must
also take into consideration the fact
that the United States Army and Navy
have 1000 planes and that the Chinese
possess $50.
There are reports that Great Britain
and France have now exchanged pledges
to support each other in case either is
attacked. The British have given specific
assurances on that score to Belgium.
This apparent restoration of the entente
cordiale naturally calls for steadily ex-
panding armaments on both sides OF the
Channel. Mussolini has let it be known
that Italy will not lag behind in the
worldwide orgy to pile up the ma
chinery of war.
Under the circumstances, it is COM
prehensible and commendable that
President Roosevelt is credited with the
early intention Of using the authorize
ton already given him by Congress to
begin construction Of two super modern
battleships for the United States Navy.
They would be built, in pursuance of
parity policy, to match the ships which
Great Britain will lay down Immediately
upon expiration of the 1880 limitation
treaties at the end Of this year.