Evening star., 1938-08-14
SPAIN AND CHINA
WAR TEST TUBES
Military Chiefs Altering
Plans on Facts Learned
in Battles There.
BY RAIDER WINGET,

III bdtlIeS mere,
BY RAIDER WINGET,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
LONDON, Aug. 13.-Mimic battle
fields of Europe are resounding with
grim practice for "the next war;"
making use Of deadly lessons learned
in Spain and China.
This does not mean another war
necessarily is coming, or coming soon,
but Europe is making ready Just in
case.
Shanghai and Madrid, Marking and
Bilbao constituted the test-tubes of
war in which general staff officers
have tried weapons and tactics de-
signed since the World War to kill
more swiftly. And world powers,
through the eyes Of their military
observers. have watched closely.
From those battlefields and others
have come startling facts to change
war-making plans of the world. Sol
diers from one end of Europe to the
other now are subjecting those les
sons to the stress Of war games.
One eminent military authority said
the general stats of Europe are simp-
ly whistling In the dark. They don't
know what is coming or how to meet
1t.
But nearly all agree that the next
war. when or where no one knows,
will be won in the end by the balance
Of economic power as was the last
World War. But meantime the gen.
erals turn to Spain and China for
tips.
Two Chief New Factors.
The two most important new fac
tors. as far as known now, are air
planes and the mechanization OF
armies for quick transport.
Highest military authorities Of halt
dozen powerful nations agree in
principle on how to wage a war" but
differ widely on details.
Most of them anticipate lightning
like thrust which would crush one
side almost instantly, but failing that
they believe there will be a lengthy
campaign incorporating all the hor-
rors of war and ending in utter COL
lapse.
As to their war weapons they now
see:
!. Tanks, extremely vulnerable
against anti-tank gun defenses, as fu-
ture auxiliary units.
2. Airplanes. as yet incompletely
tried in warfare. as an unknown force
with terrific potential destructive
power.
3. Machine guns, the greatest weap-
on to come into general use out OF
the World War. as powerful death
dealing instrument in the hands OF
almost every soldier.
4. The iron horse" mechanization
OF armed units. as a means OF TRIPPING
the speed and casualties of war.
Preparations Greatest in History.
There have been more prepara
tions for the next war than prob
ably any war in history
Soldiers, weapons and tactics have
been tried recently In Palestine, Wazi
ristan (where British troops put down
northwest tribesmen). Changkufeng
Ethiopia and the Gran Chaco Of South
America in addition to major wars in
Spain and China.
Small mobilization tests have been
carried out under wartime conditions
during political quarrels between
CSechoslovakis and Germany. Ger
many and Austria. Poland and Lithu-
ania. Soviet Russia and Japan, Italy
and Germany. Britain and Italy
France and Spain.
Those powers which have not tried
their weapons against human targets
are holding tactical war games like
the United States.
The generals all seem satisfied the
next war will come with even more
swiftness than the Germans marched
into Belgium "a years ago.
Then an army could move only Is
miles day. Today mechanized units
can race sometimes so or 100 miles
daily.
Four Stages Expected.
General staffs expect four stages ir
the next war:
l. The first is expected to consis,
Of open field maneuvers, as in the
American War Between the State,
but with a tremendously accelerated
tempo. Such maneuvering in the
World War lasted about three months
before trench warfare started. Simila,
but faster open maneuvering probably
would last six months next time unles.
a knockout blow ended the wal
quickly.
2. Trench warfare is expected A
the second stage. It will be much the