Evening star., 1938-04-10
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR
Plea for Full Citizenship of District Reens-Army
Comments the Ship of State.

of life-others who wonder if we ever
think-and, if so. what?
AS witnessed the Army Day parade on
the corner of Fourteenth street and Con-
stitution avenue Wednesday afternoon
many thoughts came and went thru my
mind-some Of them fingered. Here was
the military display of our great Nations
might from the nearby posts. Marching in
formidable array, they stood for the forces
that protect everything sacred in this form
Of government. Through their presence,
we have assurance that this country may
always be referred to as the land of the
free and the home of the brave. They act
as steel bulwark against the scourge of
European "sms" and oriental imperialism.
As the caissons rolled along found my
interest centered on equipment. The show
ing OF the "66th" tanks from Fort George
G. Meade was splendid in the behalf of
equipment so far as they go. With the
vast expanse of country to protect they
wouldn't be drop in the bucket There
is decided deficiency of medium tanks and
heavy tanks. Anti-aircraft guns are des-
fenslve weapon, the coast defenses and the
Arches are certainly in that category 1t
would be appalling to know the shortage of
both. was on duty at Fort Monroe some
time ago and think all of the guns there
dated back before the World War.
Armaments progress like anything else,
and as time goes on they are outmoded and
replaced by newer and more efficient
weapons. Small and large calber field
pieces are lacking OF course, we have
some, but too few when 1t comes to de-
Tending thousands of miles of coast line.
don't know of branch that has what it
should. in comparison with potential enc
mics. Even the Air Corps, which appar-
emily is the pet Of Congress, can stand much
more Improvement. We must stack our
selves up beside the three mad dogs" OF
Europe and Asia in harsh reality and see
how we stand, for it is through such COM
parison that We know where We stand.
We must stop to consider that this is a
great country of ours and that we have
resources and achievements along all lines
which cause nations to envy us. hardly
think that we could call any nation but so
much of friend.
When one realizes the inadequate state
OF affairs existing in our equipment they can
readily agree and commend those military
and political officials who have tried so hard
to build them up to par 1t might be stated
here that our officers have done splendid
work with the resources they were allotted.
but their hands were tied through lack of
appropriations. 1t is hoped that the present
state OF affairs over the world will be
means by which they will get enough to
build our forces up to what they should be.
Don't misconceive me and think that I ad-
vocate an army equal in size to that of
Russia's However. we do want and need
much more than We have.
May each succeeding Army Day find
better and better equipment rolling down
the avenue as symbol of the great might
OF great Nation against any who might
dare attack us and take away from us our
cherished heritage-"the land of the free
and the home of the brave"
IRWIN G. MARLBOROUGH,
Pvt Medical Dept, U. S. Army.