Evening star., 1938-10-16

pointed out the Fort Bragg warning
net was so carefully planned that had
it failed to function the warning net
plan probably would have been aban-
doned as unavoidable and some other
form of pursuit warning would have
been sought. Failure OF the Fort
Bragg system, it was explained. would
have meant that the system, not the
mechanical details, had been proved
faulty.
Reconnaissance Big Help.
The experiences of the past week
prove that the use of reconnaissance
airplanes may prove valuable aid
to bombardment and attacks under
the realistic conditions of war. So
vital was reconnaissance to the invad-
ing Blacks that during the past week
even the giant BD-17 flying fortress
bombers have been diverted from their
usual missions to act as reconnaissance
airplanes. Both Air Corps and ground
officers have been highly pleased with
the results of the exercises.
Already" Gen. Arnold said. Il
know that this war game has been
worth many times every cent it has
cost our Government. We have learned
much which can improve later war
games. We must have more OF then,
in other sections of the country until
our whole system Of national defense
is worked out for each coast and
every section"
The exercises have afforded to the
anti-aircraft artillery, for the first
time, an opportunity to assemble and
install complete all-round defense
and to test out under conditions close
ly Stimulating those of actual service
many of the features of such a defense
which have heretofore been based upon
theory only, Brig. Gen. Fulton c.
Gardner, defense commander. said at
a final press conference tonight at de-
fense headquarters.
Present types of anti-aircraft guns
and searchlights, il installed in a
complete all-round defense, Gen. Gard
ner said, will serve to maintain all
types of enemy aircraft At attitudes
which will render exceedingly difficult
accurate bombing of defended objec-
tive of limited area, particularly at
night, and that in the case of large
area target anti-aircraft artillery alone
cannot be expected to provide COM
plete defense"
Hopes for Similar Nets.
Both pursuit aviation and anti
aircraft artillery must be given impor-
tant roles in anti-aircraft defense and
joint training Is necessary to insure
the most effective use Of both in war. "
Gen. Gardner said.
Gen. Gardner said that a civilian
warning net Of the type established
here can be maintained with very little
additional work over 4 period of years.
He expressed the hope that similar nets
might be established. Exercises held,
and the nets subsequently maintained
in additional vital areas, maintenance
work could be carried on, he thought,
by few reserve officers on active duty
status for few days each year.
The experience gained in the Or
ganization and operation of both the
warning net and the blackout through
the voluntary cooperation OF the citi-
zens of the areas concerned will be OF
great value to the War Department in
the development of plans for similar
defensive installations on 4 much
greater scale in time of war" said
Gen. Gardner.
The Fort Bragg exercises have been
the most extensive in point OF hours
flown in the peacetime history of the
Army Air Corps. It was announced