Evening star., 1940-05-19
See Editoriol-'A Menoced America
BY JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.

The outcome of days fighting Europe may
alter basicay the whole American defense
the standpoint Of safety the Americas the next few weeks
to be the most momentous American military history
For the American defense policy has based belief that
because of British community
the Atlantic and in the Caribbean this Nation security
in the east long the British British
remained powers ahoat.
of this concept the United States has built
ocean fleet with the Panama Canal national lifeline
should become time transfer the fleet from
concept
air force patterned types airpanes
which being designed provide
protection for the North American coane and
particularly to obtaining foohold within air
Of vital in the temporary absence of the fleet in
operation with the fleet.
On the basis of this concept Canal becomes
OF the national defense system and OF the equally vital
hemisphere defense system which Roosevelt brought
to Europe Military leaders of both services in
complete that the canal must made mpregnabe
be by exercise human Skill foresight and
British and French Aid Depended Hitherto.
both military strong
holds Of the utmost Importance to them in the Caribbean area
Their interest keeping these ouposts nviolabe differs only
Cana and the seaboard The existence OF British and
fleets therefore always has been great extent
protection the Caribbean
it has of British and French interests
Destruction neutrazing the British and French fleets
would at one blow rob the United States OF great and
all practical sandpoints protection in the Atlantic
Actually the amount potential protection to the United States
afforded by the existence Of the British fleet has been materially
increased by the British
interests of the United States sS
Germany Germany and Italy defeat the British
French and demand destruction Of the
fleets with destruction of the British Isles the alternative
the United States and its sister republics Of Central and South
America might awaken overnight to find themselves with
lection in the Atlantic In the light of what has happened during
recent weeks the possibility such shocking outcome of the
present war cannot be ignored.
to that this possibility ignored
by American Army and Navy general STATS With the
which have been placed their disposal the Navy
it well known worked out plans defense of the Americas
against attack by German coalition This
with other plans contemplating attack by other possible com
nations Of has been developed in accordance with the
dictates Of common prudence.
l. Has Been Tested in Maneuvers
The has been tested in held during the
two by the Army and by the Army cooperation with the
Atlantic squadron North Carolina ackout"
October s38 somewhat earlier Long Island blackou
England exercises OF the working military
problems upon against by
ton which also had heavily engaged fleet
Pacific The Atlantic coastal defense became defense
problem in these exercises
But although the general STATS have envoned the possibility
that the United States might have to grips with coalition
OF triumphant totataan the fact remains that
tense system itself has made enough powerful
handle situation with the
successful to American interests
major Of American defense plans which
/ (Contuued cn pare IA Column ~