Evening star., 1938-11-20
Americas Could Mass
Million Trained Men
To Repe| Invader
u. S. keiehbors Also
Have Vast Stores
Of Materials
~ Me Associated Press.

~ Me Associated Press
Canada and the 20 Latin Amer
lean republics could contribute
moro than a million trained men
along with war planes and naval
craft, to the mutual defense of the
Western Hemisphere which Presi-
dent Roosevelt has envisioned.
Probably even more important,
military experts said yesterday, Is
the fact that their cooperation
would assure availability Of vast
stores of strategic materials which
the United States lacks, and pro-
vide additional bases for the Amer
lcan Navy.
Speaking privately, informed off,
eials said that in the event of az
gression from Europe or Asia, the
United States would welcome access
to their nickel, manganese, rubber.
wool, tin and coffee as much as
I military cooperation of a direct
nature.
The United States fleet. rivaled
In might only by Great Britaln's.
overshadows the naval craft OF
Canada and the Latin-American
nations.
Needs Critical Minerals.
The Army air armada OF upwards
Of 5000 planes which Mr.. Roosevelt
Is reported to have decided to
recommend to Congress, coupled
with 4 naval air force Of 5000 or
more planes, would expect slight
reinforcement from the few hun
dred military planes credited to
the other American governments.
In strategic and critical minerals
and other materials. however, the
United States has numerous weak
nesses. Though this country Is SAID
to be better equipped IN this re-
spect than any other world power,
there are 81 strategic" materials
which would have to be obtained
almost entirely from abroad in war
time and 81 others listed as
critical" by the War Department.
Canada is this countrys chief de-
nendence for nickel. Bolivia is
leading producer of tin, Argentina OF
hides and wool. From Brazil comes
manganese, used In steel manufac-
ture.
Brazil also is the principal source
Of coffee, which is among the II
"strategic" materials, and also pro-
duces rubber.
A wartime alliance with Mexico
would make available huge quantl-
ties of oil which could be transported
by sea to Atlantic ports more readily
than by rail from the mid-continent
fields.
Defenses for Canal.
Mutual defense of the hemisphere,
II developed to the fullest possible
extent, would provide for the fleet
important Canadian and South
American bases which would be vital
in the defense of the Panama Canal.
the Achilles heel of this country's
naval defense scheme. Negatively,
1t would lessen the possibility that a
hostile nation might find lodgment
for its warplanes within striking
distance of the canal, or OF the
United States border.
In trained men, Argentina can
boast a force that rivals the United
States, and Brazil and Chile also
have formidable land military
power.
Latest available figures credit Ar
rentina with an active army of 30
713 men, and q trained reserve of
448 383, compared with the United
States Army's $4,000 officers and
men, the 205 900 Of the National
Guard, and more than 100000 off,
GERS of the organized reserve.
Though the figures are conflden-
tial, officials here believe Argentina
has an army air force of $50 or
more army warplanes, and probably
100 in her naval air force. Argen-
tina's Navy consists of two pre-
World War battleships, three new
cruisers, four old ones and various
smaller craft.
Estimates for Other Nations.
Estimates for some Of the other
American nations include:
Canada-Army, 1923; reserve,
b2,0l2. Six modern destroyers, vari-
otls other naval craft. More than
100 warplanes at present, and 104
building.
Brazi-Army, 93,892: reserve,
306 1850. Two 19O8-9 battleships,
Two modern cruisers and other
.LzT\