Evening star., 1938-12-20

the National Radio Forum.
richest Nation in the world. Yet
we get for our money in naval and
military preparation only fraction
OF what is obtained by other nations
at the same price The cost of such
a scheme of preparedness would
reach astronomical figures which
stagger comprehension.
Could Not Negotiate Canal.
Yet this is not all. Much bigger
battleships than we now possess will
not be able to pass through the
Panama Canal. The superstructure
OF the Saratoga knocked down an
iron fence on top of the Gatun Lock
when she passed through. There
fore, it is suggested that in the in
terest of national defense it is
necessary to make the Panama Canal
a sea-level canal-at a cost of say
two billions. In addition, it is pro-
posed that we build a new Mica
raguan canal-at a cost say of
billion and half more.
We annexed Hawaii on the theory
that Pearl Harbor was susceptible
OF being made the strongest naval
base in the world-which indeed it
is. But with the increase in the
size Of ships, it was found when the
fleet visited Hawaii a few years ago,
that the Lexington and the Saratoga
could not get into Hawaii and had
to stand out to sea. So it will now
be necessary doubtless to construct
a new harbor at Pearl Harbor at a
cost Of few million more.
Honorable Louis Johnson, Assist
ant Secretary of War, recently raised
a cry OF panic as to the state of our
air forces and somewhat hysterically
proposed that We should proceed to
build 10000 planes. He did not ex-
plain how we could build 10000
planes before they would become
obsolete, nor how We would use the
10000 planes if We had them before
they became obsolete and We would
have to start building them again.
The figure of 10000 is apparently an
arbitrary one. based upon the fact
that Hitler Or some one for him is
alleged to have claimed an air force
OF that slze-a claim which is of
doubtful veracity. 1t takes no ac-
count OF the difference in the situa-
ton OF Germany and the United
States. 1t takes no account of the
fact that by the blessing of geogra-
ply we are not in the position of
Germany and France and England
and Italy, who are almost literally
sitting in each others laps. It does
not point out the method by which
Hitter. if he has 10000 planes. could
use them against us without losing
them, or how We, if We had 10000
planes and desired to do so. could use
10000 planes against Germany with
out losing them. Nor has it been
suggested how we would need or
use this horde of planes if we had
them in defense OF the United States
Difficulties in Landing.
So far as actual invasion of the
United States is concerned it is to
be remembered that Napoleon once
said that he had figured out seven
different ways to land an army in
England but had never been able
to find even one way to get it out
of England, an observation which
was verified by his expedition to
Russia. The latest example of the
difficulties of successful landing on
hostile shores is afforded by the
Gallipoli expedition in the World
War where Great Britain with COM
plete and undisputed naval suprem-
acy sacrificed hundreds of thousands
OF the finest troops in the world in
a vain attempt to gain more than
3 miles against an army of Turks,
poorly trained. wretchedly supplied
and armed with inferior weapons.
We come back. then, to the cues.
ton OF the purposes for which arma-
ments are to be used. If we are to
defend the shores of America-even
to assist in the defense of South
America-then our armament is in
nearly all respects substantially am
pie and in most cases much more
than ample. If we are to start out
upon policy of offensive warfare in
Europe or the Orient or both, such
a course will necessarily entail
either the formation of powerful
hard-and-fast alliances or a multi
fold increase in our armaments in
all departments. If we are to pursue
a policy of simply entering in at
random upon the affairs of other
nations and brandishing our fists in
gestures of disapprobation and dis
daln - gestures which might have
to be backed up with force to
avoid national humiliation, then we
will need naval forces incalculablv
greater than has ever been openly
advocated by any one, and we must
oe prepared to again and again send
American boys to die on foreign
nelds IN quarrels which do not con-
Germ us.
Should Have Facts,
Now 1T is not to be supposed that
after 20 years of peace, and in spite
OF our vast expenditures for mill
tary and naval preparation, there
may not be discrepancies of propor-
ton in all our establishments and
lack OF balance of units and auxil-
larles which should be corrected
Therefore. If we have unduly neg
lected-let us say the construction
OF submarines in relation to battle
shlps-this should be corrected. If
we have allowed our reserves of
powder to deteriorate we should cor
rect that situation, but we should
know all the facts and find out why
that situation was permitted to
come about. If our supplies of