Evening star., 1940-08-11
Broad Policy Of American Aid
To British Doninions Urged
Mutual Defense Pocts Would Strengthen
U. S. Fleet by Providing New Bases

escort duty; her air power must
both break down British resistance
at the point Of landing or landings,
and protect against British sea pow
er the German land power while
1t is on the way across the inter-
vening water, when 1t Is helpless to
protect itself.
Fight in Narrow Waters.
These are the elementals of the
picture. On the record SO far, 1t
would appear that British air power
is strong enough to hold up Its end; |;
at least, it would seem that 1t is
not going to be overwhelmed and
put out Of action, even though the
Germans are superior in numbers.
British sea power is greatly superior
to German sea power; but can it
also maintain its control OF the
Channel and the North Sea under
the attacks Of German air power?
Can 1t prevent the much stronger,
much better armed and trained Ger
man land power from getting at
the British land power? This is the
vital question at issue.
Remember, that this Is not an
oceanic campaign. 1t is fight in
narrow waters, within reach OF
shore-based aircraft of both sides,
and the submarines and motor boats
Of both sides, all the way around
from Norway to the tip of Brit
tany. 1t is, therefore, a fight in
which heavy warships (battleships
large cruisers, aircraft carriers op-
crate alta considerable disadvantage:
the torpedo, the mine and the bomb
can take a disporportionate toll OF
them, without their being able to
effect results Of compensatory ad-
vantage. such ships, If sent into
this fight by the British, would be
sent to sacrifice. sent only in ex-
tremis and then without great hope
that they could accomplish results
proportionate to their power and
cost.
Smaller Craft Needed.
What are rather needed for this
sort of work are small cruisers, in
cluding anti-aircraft ships, destroy
ers, gunboats and other escort
types, minelayers and minesweep-
ers, motor torpedo boats, patrol
boats, submarine chaSers, trawlers
drifters, netlayers-in q word, small
fighting craft Of all types. 1t is for
this reason that there has been SC
much talk of late about sending
Britain so or 60 of our older destroy
ers. But unfortunately, since we
have neglected to build replacements
for our destroyers, especially from
1921 to 1882, many of our older ships
of this class are still needed fol-
our own requirements.
And when all is said and done, the
question Is a much greater one than
that. 1t is problem not to be
solved by piecemeal efforts. He who
in war fritters away his forces In
| driblets will lose them without &C
complishing anything useful. AL
military history bears testimony tc
this fact. The principles of con-
centration and economy of force
cannot be flouted without riskine
disaster.
Yet the fact remains that we
cannot see Britain 60 down without
making some effort to save her
We cannot do this in our own in
| terest. We would not take in time
the measures that might have made
US secure, now We find ourselves con-
strained to preserve the British
fleet. That is the core and kerne
Of the whole matter.
Community of Intrest Seen.
1t should be perfectly clear that
! If we are to do anything effective