The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-28
Editorial Comments
From Other Angles
ARMS AND THE FREEMAN
christian Science Monitor)

Basically democracy is stronger than mill
tary power. Nevertheless the effect of military
developments on the evolution of free govern
ment has at times been profound. Some stu
cents of history even infer that the ups and
downs of democracy through the ages follow
changes in the relations between the various
groups of arms.
For example, when cavalry was a decisive
factor in warfare, aristocracy assumed the
saddle of government; because only the we'll
TODD could afford control Of the equipment
necessary to military power. But when in
fantry became the decisive factor, the placing
of weapons in the hands of the masses brought
with it the necessity Of meeting in a degree the
demands of those masses. Moreover when
every man could by the possession of a small
arm make a considerable defense of his home
and liberty, politics had to take account of
the fact.
Thus, we are told, has evolution-and some
times revolution-in military equipment effect
ed deep changes in social organization.
Today the world once more is passing through
a period wherein the big and expensive type
of armament appears to be more and more de-
cisive. Airplanes cost more than horses ever
did. Tanks, battleships, submarines and even
some of the smaller types of artillery-these
are not designed to fit the small mans pocket
book. But neither, happily for democracy, do
they fit the wealthy mans purse. They are
indeed so expensive that only the cooperation
of all the people-with the bulk of the means
necessarily provided by the numerous less we'll
to-do-can finance them.
In the present war, therefore, the revolution
Of mechanical warfare has most meaning for
democracy simply in the striking power which
at the outset it has provided for the declared
enemies of democracy.
Military experts are assessing the changes
in land and naval warfare that result from
the use of tanks and airplanes On an unpre-
cedented scale. These changes appear disad.
vantageous to naval power as additionally ex.
ercised; this is one of the more striking con
illusions of the experts. The Norwegian cam.
paign indicated that air power has made naval
operations near land risky and even Intellectual,
unless supported by an adequate air arm.
Thus naval strategy may have to be re
vised. 1t may become more like land strategy.
AS infantry is moved into position prepared by
artillery and the advance of mechanical forces
so airplanes must be brought up to make ten.
able the positions that battleships take.
Land warfare has undergone similar modifi-
cation. 1t has become more like naval warfare.
Tanks are it's battleships, the experts say by
way of illustrating this point. Tanks, aided
by airplanes, break the path for man-power tc
pour over. In addition the development of the
air arm has added a new sort of artillery tc
warfare. The airplane is like a mobile gun
the most mobile men have ever knoWn-de
livering it's fire with an accuracy and con-
centration apparently more demoralizing than
any artillery fire of the past.
This war has indeed uncovered a revolution
in military method. Where such alterations
have occurred in the past they have affected
democracy indirectly. Today they may still
exert indirect influences. But the effect thai
concerns democratic peoples at this moment is
a most direct one. 1t lies in a frank and ever
boastful intent to destroy democracy's fcunda
tons with monsters which, however, democracy
can harness to work for the protection of free
dom.