Evening star., 1939-06-19
Says Britain Must
Prepare to Attack
Defense Measures Alone Held
inadequate Against Modern
Offensive Weapons


Offensive Weapons
To the Editor OF The Star:
The day is here when proud Britannia
can no longer. in the manner of yester-
year. promote the fulfllment of her
titanic destiny.
Whenever, as in the glorious past
danger threatened one of her precious
brood, she responded with the expedi-
tious DISPLACEMENT OF few warships
from her invincible armada and hand
full of highly trained professional soldiers
to the troubled areas, and-presto!-
tranquility and business as usual"
reigned supreme in her vast dominions.
But time and progress wait for no
manor nation. The goading needs of
human expansion plus mans inventive
genius in producing lethal devices that
all but annihilate the securities of time
and distances, have wrought such fun
damental changes as to make absolutely
imperative complete reorientation of
the British concept of military strategy.
An analytical breakdown of the COM
ponent pats of her fighting machine
will conclusively show that it is geared
primarily for defense, the efficaciousness
OF which is of a temporary and dubious
nature, to say the least. These hastily
conceived measures are, OF course, the
results OF panic-stricken defense coun-
Gil attempting belated program of
homeland protection against possible
aerial invasion.
The inept and short sighted policy of
the British general staff seems inevitably
committed to the fallacious theory that
modern engines of war have neutralized
or rendered obsolete the tactical value of
a co-ordinated, well-timed offensive.
George Fielding Eliot, co-author of IF
War Comes" succinctly puts 1t in this
manner:
In the opinion OF many American
military observers. the theory of the in
evitable superiority of the defense is ILL
founded; in fact, is a contravention of
sound military principle, and therefore
is dangerous of acceptance by a people
seeking to secure itself against the perils
and horrors OF war In the larger view
OF war as it is waged today, the alleged
superiority OF the defensive is a snare
and delusion. 1t is based on tactical
considerations as applied to land warfare,
where the offensive is always the superior
form OF war. 1t applies still less to air
warfare, where the defensive cannot but
be disastrous to whoever adopts it."
The most potential development of the
Gay, the airplane, in its proper sphere,
Is essentially and inherently an offensive
weapon. It's speed and mobility are admir-
ably adapted to the purposes of surprise
and attack. and. conversely least effec-
tive as an instrument of defense. It's
highest efficiency is attained as an inte-
gral part OF co-ordinated convenience
OF tanks, artillery and infantry Tech
nlcally, it is invaluable in aerial recon-
nalsance, preparatory to an artillery
bombardment followed up by tank and
infantry attack; harassment of enemy
troops on the march. and the location
and subsequent demolition of ammuni-
ton dumps and airdromes. The employ
ment of the airplane as tactical instru-
ment of the battlefield, not urban CEN
tiers, foreshadoWs its true place in the
wars of tomorrow
The effectiveness of the airplane irUhe
bombing of civilian population, buildings,
water systems, etc. is largely overrated
especially when undertaken against mod
ern cities which have installed the proper
precautionary measures. The recent
statement OF high-ranking British
omcer that an aerial invasion of the
BRUSH Isles by certain nation would
IN the snort space of three weeks, result
IN the appalling approximation of 500, 900
fatalities. is just about as absurd a
mounting one ever heard coming from
responsible source. Indeed. the combined
aerial attacks of Italy in Ethiopia, Franco
In Spain and Japan in China did not
reach these catastrophe proportions, in
the same relative space of time, despite
the fact that these areas were densely
populated and totally unprepared and
unprotected against such invasions.
This is fair example of the paralyzing
lear that grips the British Isles today
Every one seems waiting waiting,
possibly for some one to come and blow
them out of their holes.
England must make mental as we'll as
physical preparation for the conflict to
come. and her entire military structure
must be readjusted and co-ordinated to
assume an immediate and devastating
offensive into enemy territory. She can
not win by a mere defense of the home
land.
Her mass psychology must be indoc-
trlnated with martial spirit of unre-
fined belligerency. Into her soul must
be poured mixture of blood and iron
and into her heart must be burned the
savage and conquering instincts of her
crusading ancestry. The vitiating effects
OF material prosperity and an effete
civilization must be gradually eradicated.
Unless this revitalizing policy of mill
tant and spiritual preparedness is rigidly
and courageously adhered to, it is quite
possible that the 10th century may wit
ness the passing of mighty empire.
June IL. j. DENNIS GRANGER.
Expresses Gratitude for
Moral Rearmament Story.
To the Editor of The Star: