The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-29
1eT11lan War Machine Right M Front Rank
Continued from Page p

EI 60 %. .o0O marks (l2.4oO. .Oo0, ,O00) NH Mar preparations. It estimates Nl'E years military expenses at I o, ,0D0, 600 marks, or two-thirds ff <he entire German budget. Ger uimn authorities deny the accuracy Of these figures, but their sources merits measure of credence.
 The rapid growth of the German army in numbers of men a.-Jrds an indication of the great expansion of her war machine as a whole.
 The Versailles treatey limited Ger many to an army of 100, 900, without airplanes, tanks or heavy artillery. Before leaving the League of Na- ticns, Feuhrer Adolf Hitler sought permission to expand it to 300,000 and proceeded to do so without permission. Two years ago he en- larged the army to 550,000. Now 1t it generally estimated at 1900, 900. Germany thus has the largest stand ing army army of any making ex- cept Soviet Russia.
 Universal COnscription
 Universal conscription was intro duced two years ago. The terms of compulsory service was increased last August from one to two years. The revival of conscription, which was forbidden under the Versailles treaty, will in time help remedy one of the German arny's present ser- ious defects--a lack of masses of trained reserves such as France and Russia have. There likewise is a shortage of fully trained officers.
 To an extent equalled only in Russia, Germany has stressed de- velopment of air power, tanks, and other mechanized fighting units. She specializes in light. fast tanks of about six tons. Altogether Germany is believed to have about 1900 tanks The number is benig increased rap idly.
 A great number of the tanks and other armored and mechanized equipment have just been organized into a new army group of three divisions. They are designed to form a concentrated force capable of striking quickly and powerfully against an enemy. General von Brauschitsch will take command of these divisions on April l.
 Mechanical Groups
 Each division of the regular army includes 8 mechanical reconnaiS- sarce group consisting o ia com pany of light tanks, armored cars and anti-tank guns, accompanied by two companies of infantry trans ported in cross-country trucks.
 Another German innovation is the adoption of large numbers of 105 millimeter, or about four finch, guns. Most countries reply largely on three-inch artillery patterned after the famous French 75s. The new and larger German guns are said to have exceptional range, hitting poger and mobility. The Germans also have developed a 37 millimeter anti-tank gun reputedly able to dis able any tank at 600 yards. Electri- cally controlled anti-aircraft guns, operating in batteries of four as a unit, are another feature of the new arinaments.. These proved a surprise to foreign observers when they were put into action in Spain.
 Air Force Is Secret
 Much attention, and speculation, has been centered on the size and efficiency of Germany's air force. Its very existence was admitted off, cially only two years ago when Hit Ter told Sir John Simon that Ger many had about 800 first-line planes. Since then many widely exaggerat- ed estimates have been made abroad as, for instance Lord Rothermere's statement in 1884 that Germany had 25,0OO military planes.
 The well-known British military critic Linddell Hart estimated Ger many's force at 1,200 flrst-line planes at the end of 1886. A Soviet official, who would be unlikely to underestimate placed the German air force in 1885 at 3,700 planes including reserves.
 1,8OO First Line Aircraft
 On the basis of the best available data, 1t seems likely that Germany now has about 1900 first-line mili- tary aircraft, a force about equal to Britain's. For each flrst-line plane,