Evening star., 1939-05-21
America Held Best
Prepared for War
By Fredertc J. HdSkin,

determination to keep out of war, the
United States today Is believed to be
better prepared for struggle than any
other country. Lloyd's of London, the
great group of insurers who will issue
insurance against any eventuality in the
world, from the probability of suicide to
the birth Of twins, has constructed an
index designed to reflect the state of
preparedness of the various nations. 1t
shows that the United States is three
times better prepared than Germany,
and this in spite of the fact that even
the children of the German Reich are
taught to bear arms.
The index is based on a weighing OF
all the essentials which 60 toward the
making of war Man power, of course,
Is paramount consideration, but con-
sideration also is given to the various
resources which must of necessity be fac
tors In any conflict All elements con-
sidered, it is estimated by Lloyds that
the United States is four times stronger
than France, nation which long has
had compulsory military service and is
famed for its constant state of prepared
ness with its impregnable Maginot Line
on the German border its amazing series
OF Notifications and it's strong navy.
The United States is given a rating five
times stronger than Great Britain and
twelve times greater than Japan.
Reduced to index numbers the figures
are as follows: The United States, 22.35;
Germany, So; France, 5.37; Russia, 4.95;
Great Britain, As; Italy, 1872, and
Japan, lit.
Three years ago Lloyds were giving
odds of 100 to against the United States
entering any foreign war and odds of 500
to against the probability of the United
Stases being invaded by foreign foe.
These odds have been reduced to so to 1
against entry into a foreign war and 300
to against invasion. There is a story
in London to the effect that. in a quiet
and semi-official manner, the managers
OF Lloyd's were approached through the
American Embassy at London and urged
to reduce the odds. This was done it is
whispered at the instance of the highest
quarters in American officialdom and
Tor the reason that it was feared wide
spread publication of the very long odds
against any danger coming to America
would result in such general apathy
among the American people that large
appropriations for defense would not be
supported. Whatever the reason may
have been, the odds were shortened. but
still, in times like the present, odds of
so to spell long shot.
*4 xt
That such odds are possible is due to
a combination of reasons Some years
ago an American humorist, in discuss
ing pending rivers and harbors appro-
prlatlon measure. suggested that the on
tire budget Of millions provided should be
spent in widening and deepening the At
lantic and Pacific Oceans. This face
tlous observation did serve to emphasize
Americas prime defenses. Even though
there has been tremendous development
OF aircraft the magnificent distances CT
roaring sea which separate the Ameri-
can Continent from the older world will
always provide sure shield For CEN
turles Great Britain regarded her insu.
lar position as safeguard but, for mod
ern war conditions, the seas which sep
arate her from the continent of Europe
are too narrow to have any Importance.
With the United States the tale is diff
ferent. While airplanes can laugh at
the 20-mile English Channel, which even
woman can swim. they are given pause
by thousands of miles of uneasy water,
with no landing places, no places to
refuel.
Ever since the Spanish armada, the
British Navy has been rated as the
greatest in the world. 1t deserved that
reputation and was able to make good
the boast that Britannia ruled the waves.
Now for the first time in all history. the
United States Navy Is almost on a
parity with Britain's. Indeed, so far
as man power is concerned the two
giant navies stand equal In actual
numbers Britain has few more men
before the mast. but many of them have
been newly called (since Munich) from
the reserve lists. The United States
Navy, on the other hand, is fully manned
with veterans and in addition has
reserve Of 10000, which has not been
touched, but could be overnight.
The American high commands of both
Army and Navy have worked out to the
last details plans for what is known as
M Day. This symbol stands for Mobili-
zatlon Day. The Standing Army of the
United States numbers only 165 900.
which is very small in world terms. It
ranks only tenth among the standing
forces of the great powers of the world.
But the plans for M Day are so COM
prehensive that, overnight, a force of
100000 reserves can be put into the field,
while 100000 can be added In a month
and 100000 in four months.
But there are other nations which have
far more man power than Americas 130,-
100000 can produce. So a better reason
Tor Lloyd's long odds can be found in
the almost tnexhaustible resources of
the United States. Time was when
farmers took up scythes and axes and
went to war, but modern warfare calls
for a far more complex organization.
The United States is Tremendously rich
IN iron and coal, the two great indus
trial fundamentals, and it leads the
world in control of petroleum resources,
There is only one prime need for which
1t must go abroad-rubber-b secretlv
long strides have been taken in the per-
lection of synthetic rubber and. at a
pinch. 1t Is said that the United States
can DO without the cargoes of crude