Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-01

and is doubtless confident he can do
1t again. In fact, the neglected
state of American defense Is directly
due to the fact that Herr Hitler
bluf1ed the President out of taking
the advice of the one man in
America whose knowledge of de-
tense preparations was based on a
frst-hand study from the time he
was chairman of the War Indus
tries Board in the last war to the
present day, namely, Bernard M.
Baruch.
Newspaper clippings will reveal
that when Mr.. Baruch came back
from Europe just after the Inflated
Munich conference and urged that
America build up her defenses
promptly, it looked for a while as if
the President might take Mr.. Ba-
ruchs advice. But the Berlin press
began vituperative campaign
against Mr.. Baruch as an "interna-
tlonal banker and War-monger." and
ION that day forward Mr.. Baruch
was side-tracked by the White
House. He comes down every now
and then for informal talks with
the President, but he has never been
given the job he should have had
co-ordinator of national defense
and his advice has gone unheeded.
Made Plea for Speed.
More than two years ago, Mr..
Baruch, in a series of memoranda
addressed to high officials, revealed
the state of our neglected defenses
and pleaded for speed. Extracts
from these documents were first
published in the United States News
on May II last, just after Holland
and Belgium were invaded, but they
become more pertinent now that
America faces perilous situation
with a minimum amount of prepara-
ton.
On April 90, 1898, Mr.. Baruch's
memorandum says:
THE increased British budget
shows that England has neglected
for years to keep up her ornaments
and had to do in a short time, and
therefore in expensive manner, what
Is demanded in the present circum-
stances. Doubtless Hitlers and
Mussolini's demands were met be-
cause England end France were not
readF. You are aware of the condi-
ton Of the American Navy and of
the Army. Every one knows what
1t Is, except the American people,
for surely the foreign governments
know.
Il do not know whether the spe-
cial machinery that is necessary for
making powder has been bought
That should be top priority. Next
should be the shortage in anti-air-
craft and anti-tank and semi-auto-
matte shoulder rifles, with a reserve
of special machinery. Then air.
planes and more airplanes."
Cited Unpreparedness.
Hitler has banked on these short
ages, many of which still exist.
After Munich, Mr.. Baruch on his
return from Europe addressed an
other memorandum to high officials
In Washington, dated October II,
1898:
1.-TWO things stand out in the Eu-
ropean crisis: Cd That Germany
outmaneuvered the others in de-
taching Poland from a possible al
lance against her co And more
important, England was tragically
unprepared. Her navy would have
been of no use except as a blockade.
Aside from the fleet, everything else
favored Germany tremendously.
There is no doubt about her numeri-
cal superiority in the air as opposed
to all the others.
ANY nation which gains supremacy
In the air and can keep it places the
other nations at a disadvantage be-
cause it would be impossible to build
either airplanes or defenSeS when
the factories are subject to constant
raiding by superior air force. Ger
many and Italy have received rec
ignition of their power. 1t will take
long time to overcome this"
Then in the same memorandum,
Mr.. Baruch pleaded again:
THE condition of American de-
lenses Is unknown only to Ameri-
cans Every foreign power knows
exactly what we are doing and what
we lack. While Germany has been
arming, she also has been busy
spreading her ideologies among the
nations of the world, sending her
ornaments and soldiers to inculcate