The Washington times., 1938-09-19
What Have WeLearned From
Abyssinia, China and Spain?

WYE know there have been in Abyssnia China
w and Spain. They have been undeclared wars,
surrounded with much mystery as to the equipment
used the technique brought into play, and the dis
coveries made by military observers.
We asked John O'Donne, our Washington corre-
spondent to find out from military sources just what
these three undeclared have taught the fighting
men. What, in general, have
Whnt Haze these wars proved in re: Aerial
NIL DJO warfare, the of tanks, the
avg usefulness of infantry, the prob
able future of trench warfare etc. Specifically, we
asked Just what improvements have occurred in air.
planes in tanks ard defensive to stop them,
in artillery, in the transportation of troops
The first and most important answer is that the
effectiveness of arplanes instrument of has
been greatly discredited Until the undeclared wars
occurred in Abyssina, China and Spain almost all
strategiss accepted the word of the great tactcian'
Douhet, that the country with the biggest air fleet
would win the
This theory has turned out to be falacy, just as
precision bombing-the theory that
Planes Don't anv given objective could be de-
Wy. w., stroyed if enough bombs were
w" VW poured on it-has turned out to
he faacv The air force still remains valuable adjunct
but the decision still must be forced by the infantry
There are two good examples to prove that planes need
infantry to back them up O In Spain the road by which
beeaguered Madrid received its supplies from Barcelona
as bombed for year by FRANCOIS planes but was not
cut until the infantry moved in. 2) In China the Japs
have been trying vanly to break the Canton-HankoW
railroad They have been pouring bombs on it in steady
stream The railroad still operating and at last reports
still paying good dividends.
All military strategsts agree that good air force is
essential in speeding up the ef-
BnyOneTS BeLteT fectiveness of the infantry
zr1 DL an added arm and eye for the
"'"'' DO infantry Diving planes, spray
ing machnegun bullets ground forces can keep them
from digging in and fighting back So much for planes
Spain and China have pretty we'll demonstrated that
the theory that huge tank could dominate opposing
infantry is alacy In actual tanks have turned out
,, to be too lightly armored, too
lM0ntTy OCHG vulnerable to guns mines, tank
D7 A. Dooo+ traps mud and swamps. The
A"'''00 WV ~ Italian defeat at Guadalajara
occurred because their tanks begged down.
The chief lesson of Abyssina Spain and China is that
staeate warfare-two armies entrenched and battling
from fixed positions-mus give way to newer and more
terrifying type of ghting The surprise attack by mobile
troops outankng the enemy and striking with lightning
quckneSs.
On specific improvements, there is this to report:
Rifles-The doughboy in the A. E. F.. if expert,
could scarcely fire than 20 shots minute with his
old Springfield The 1888 soldier fire 80 to 100 shots
q minute with rifles.
Mobility-Wartime infantry doing well to move
18 miles day on foot With trucks to transport the
soldiers modern infantry treble quadruple that
figure. Equipment too, is lighter
ATH1IeS Are about 80 pounds, compared to so or
Moro Mohilc 60 pounds in 191S
Panes-1n the World War, 100
m. p h. to 12O p h. fast. Pursuit planes fly
around 400 miles per hour.
We think have chronced enough facts to show that
the next will be far terrible and far costly
than the last. We ought to stay out of it. We and
should refuse to invade any other country We keep
other countries from invading by building two ships to
their is the best and soundest guarantee of peace
'front.' he
Washington Needs
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