Evening star., 1937-08-29
AIR DEFENSES

thoroughly discredited, for Madrid
has been bombed almost necessarily,
both day and night 1t is no secret
that the insurgents have had the aid
OF the finest planes Germany and
Italy could throw into the neld.
manned by experienced aviators. It
is estimated there are 10000 to $4,000
Germans. mostly airmen and artillery
men, and an equal number of Italians
on the side OF the insurgents. Dis
patches state that in one raid on Mad
rid, insurgents have launched as many
as $50 tri-motored bombers and an
equal number Of machine-gunning
pursuit ships. Moreover, the hail Of
bombs has not been without effect on
lives and buildings On last March
l6. after the insurgents had been
hammering four months, the loyal
1st command estimated 1,277 killed
$500 injured and 1000 buildings de-
stroyed by bombs. On March IS, be-
ginning shortly before midnight and
ending at dawn, for fve hours. a con-
tinuous stream Of bombers was
launched over the city, ship taking
up the fight as soon rs the missiles OF
the preceding ship were dropped. As
many as 900 bombs are said to have
been dropped in one raid
Yet even such unending attack not
only has had no effect on the rest OF
the loyalists morale. but life in the
city itself has gone on much the same.
Business carries on, theaters remain
open. the people have dug in and
continue to shout defiance.
A MOTHER question asked about
the enemy's plan by the STRAIT
eeists Is. Are they just going to stay
out there and launch q bombing at
tack now and then?" 1t is pointed
out that il the foe wants to land troops,
his planes would be used to lay down
4 barrage on some lonely, compar-
atively unprotected stretch of coast
line, so his ships could approach and
land infantry
Even with all the natural advan-
tages Of Washington. there are those
who can yet see danger. One point
brought up is the supposition that the
combined forces Of two strong powers
might run the blockade OF the Army
and Navy, and II two couldn't force a
wedge, surely the additional power of
one or two more nations would be able
to. The War and Navy Departments
would seem to be within their rights
to refer these to, the State Depart
ment's well-oiled bureau in charge Of
friendly relations. for II this comes
about our defenses are not at fault,
but our handclasp.
Others that see peril speculate on
the possibility an enemy might, with
out warning, suddenly launch planes
to bomb Washington from q lone car
rier that slipped across the Atlantic
unobserved. There would be no series
OF incidents leading to unfriendly re-
lations between our country and the
attacker, such AS preceded the World
War: no handing Of passports to am
bassadors or formal declaration of
hoetilities. In fact, the first suspicion
Washingtonians or the heads of our
Government or even the people of the
other nation would have that the at
tacker had designs on the United
States would be when = bomb burst
suddenly on the dome of the Capitol.
In considering an apparently unpro-
voked attack, aside from the fact the
move would be considered most das-
tardly by civilized persons, 1t is gen.
orally agreed that people would not
tolerate their government to pledge
their lives on such short notice This
fact applies even to the peoples Of
countries ruled by dictators. who, 1t Is
well known, without the aid of mass
propaganda machine could not hold
their seats even In times Of peace,
much less Withstand the rebound from
the shock. such as sudden attack on
another nation would cause.
In such countries = group is always
seeking the overthrow Of powerful
leaders and no more favorable time
for springing the trap could be- con-
ceived It would be borne in mind
that to maintain itself Is objective
No. l Of every government"
Another reassuring point on the sub
ject Of sudden attack is the War De-
pArtment's terse comment:
Nations cannot strike like high
waymen In the dark-it isn't 70 dark. ;"
What the future will bring in the
way Of development Of airplanes can
not Be guessed even for the coming
year, but II . prophecy may b based
On the past great strides ars ahead.