Evening star., 1938-03-25
Big Future U.S.. Var Machine
Revealed in House Committee
Battles Miles Up in Air Pictured-Ne,c
Semi.Automatic Weapons and
Other Arms Detailed.

Battles in which infantry and
cavalry will fight entirely with semi
automatic weapons. new anti-tank
guns and provision mortars, supported
by fleets Of fast, light tanks and artil-
lery with new, fast-flring, hard
hitting guns, while more than five
miles overhead. pursuit airplanes at
tack bonlberS with cannon were pic
tured before the House Appropriations
Committee in hearings just made
public.
Testifying in support of an ap-
preparations bill to provide more
money for the Army than has been
granted by Congress In Is years, rank
ing Army officers described new
weapons and tactics which are revolu-
t,onizins modern warfare.
Although some of the most spec
tacular developments have been in
aerial warfare, officers of the other
arms and services drew back the cur
tains to disclose starting advances in
ground warfare methods and weapons.
"Streamlined" Divisions.
Arming of the doughboy with new
ni-a,itomatic weapons and new types
of mschine-guns. anti-tank guns and
n1ortars Is making possible the evolu-
ton of new ''streamlined" division
In which 10000 men possess all of the
fire power of the World War division
of more than 10000 men. coupled with
kreNnorinr,s1y
officers pointed out. This would result
in complete elimination of the in
fantrys time -honored weapon, the
single-shot musket or rifle, just as the
cavalry has given up its equally char
acteristic weapon, the Saber
At the same time, motorization plans
contemplate an infantry division
equipped to carry every officer and
man by motor vehicle, the equipment
being used to haul up supplies am
n,unition and to move guns, kitchens
and supplies once the division reached
the battle line.
In coldly matter -of-fact testimony,
behind closed doors. the ArmyS leaders
discussed with members of the COM
nnittee new equipment which changes
almost the entire picture Of warfare
as the veteran of the World War
knew it.
Air Corps Development.
FIRST the Air Corps:
The Army Air Corps. Mai Gen,
Oscar Westover, chief. told the COM
committee. is an "M-Dav" force. In
other words, it must be completely
equipped and ready to GO on a mo-
nnent's notice. This entails constant
development, training and procure
ment. Research now is going on into
design of tremendously fast combat
aircraft of the various types and into
more powerful gasoline and fuel oil
engines of up to 2,500 horsepower each,
The armament race between ma
tons during the last few years has
developed largely into an aeronautical
contest" Mai. Gen, Westover told the
committee. Greater and greater pro-
portions of the total amounts being
spent for armament have been directed
toward the procurement of airplanes. "
OF the total of SAT- .808555 reported
by the House committee for the Army
approximately one-quarter, or S124,-
100000. would 60 to the Air Corps.
While the United States has not
been drawn into such armam ment race.
It must endesvor to keep in the van of
areonautical development" Gen. West
over continued. Increased research
activities by other nations tend to ar-
eelerate progress. and our country
must not fail to utilize every resource
to improve our means of defense
Powerful Engines Being Built.
That this country is not failing in
this duty, the general said, is attested
hv recent developments. Engines now
are being produced with a rating of
about 1900 horsepower. and the next
step will be toward standard engines
producing 1000 horsepower or more,
These now are In the experimental
stage. Propellers. superchargers and
other equipment are keeping pace.
Among the new airplanes now in
the experimental stage, Gen. Westover
cited the giant Boeing Bis bomber
more than one and one-half times
heavier than the famous flying fort
resses" which recently few to Ruenos
Aires and back, the pressure cabin"
transport which may be the forerun-
ner of similar substra tosphere bomb
ers, and the two-engine mlItjnIace
fightear, with pusher propellers which
carries crew of five, including three
Ctlnrers and Is regard as "the n,oe+