Evening star., 1938-10-10

Minister Cham
berlain avoided war was that Ensldiio
was unprepared for air attack 10 .iie
extent that would have been necessary
against the German air force.
All sorts of reasons have been ao-
vsnced for Mr., Chamberlain's conclll-
atory attitude toward Hitler ana one
NAV believe whatever one pleases
about that sort Of diplomacy, but what
is significant now is the argument De-
ing made here that England ana
France were both more Vulnerable
than their own peoples realized ana
that the Germans knew 1t all the
time.
If one believes that physical force
rules the world today and that the
Munich agreement does not represent
an exercise Of self-restraint by heaos
of governments or will to peace out
merely a truce, then the problem OF
national defense enters conspicuously
into the situation for discussion by the
experts.
Sees Powers Unprepared.
One man who ought to be familiar
with our own national defense sltua-
ton and who has had quite BACK
ground Of experience with the sup]ect
told this correspondent that MS own
INQUIRIES in England last summer con-
firmed his present belief that the
Munich accord was the direct result
of British and French unpreparedness.
Transferring the problem to America,
this same expert, who, by the way, mas
no connection with the Army or navy
or the manufacture or sale OF war sup
plies or airplanes, pointed out that
from a strategic point OF view the
United States has many lessons 10
learn from Britain's experience. mus,
he declared, an aircraft carrier can
approach the shores of Nova Scotia,
let loose a few bombing planes which
could destroy our factories in Detroit
and return to the mother ship the
same day.
More and more the question of To-
eating munition plants and airplane
factories In interior points is being
given consideration by military ex-
perts. The question Of anti-aircraft
defense is likely to be discussed more
widely now than ever before. Ger
tainly the theory that anti-aircraft
guns constitute a sufficient defense
depends on the quantity of such weap-
ons and the ability to locate them at
all-important points where air attack
might possibly occur.
Pursuit Planes Needed.
The best defense against an enemy
air force would seem to be powerful
air force of defense with sufficient pur-
suit planes to scout and locate planes
of the slower and heavier sort which
are used for bombing. But nowadays
1t is not enough merely to have a set
number Of planes of all types-the
factories themselves which can assure
q steady supply of planes must be
available and well protected against
air attack.
My informant, for instance, men
toned that England had long been
urged to give attention to the build
ing of airplane factories in dominion
areas such as Canada with the ex-
pectation that planes could be shipped
In parts and assembled in England.
More aircraft carriers for the navies
Of the world are undoubtedly going to
be needed as conveys to battleships
or merchant ships. Indeed, the whole
plan of national defense is undergoing
rapid changes nowadays because OF
the intensive development of aircraft
warfare on the European continent.
Under such circumstances America,
even with two oceans, can no longer
place reliance on navy as the first
line of defense Not only is there as
much need but more need for naval
power because the new element-air
attack-introduces different problems
even for the United States as the nom
stop cruising radius of airplanes Is
constantly being increased. With the
development Of powerful combina-
tion of aircraft carriers and supporting
naval craft no country, not even the
United States, can be absolutely sure
of Its defenses unless it has more of
the same thing than a potential
enemy. Anyway, the Senate and House
will have plenty to talk about when
new armament is up FOR appropriation
next January.
Copyright, 1889