Evening star., 1940-12-15

United States Army tanks encounte
THERE has emerged during the past
i half year an industry overtopping all
others in America. Among its little
known activities are real estate opera
tions approximating the combined areas
of Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut
and Massachusetts,. For the present fiscal
year it is authorized to disburse $780,
000,0 ,000 This new titan Of business is
the United States Army.
A recent tour of principal military
reservations in the Southwest and South
stamped an impression of floods Of
wealth poured out in feverish but ordered
haste; Of negotiations for the rental Of
hundred of thousands of acres at a
stroke. entailing the abolition of entire
counties; and OF cities of canton
ments springing up overnight, complete
with food and shelter facilities. garages,
theaters, clubs. playing fields and light.
water and heat utilities.
With a panorama of such magnitude
before the eyes, certain queries of public
interest offer themselves. What benefit
/ is accruing to the Nation from this
avalanche of money and toll? In the
campaign for military preparedness, what
curve of progress is visible? How soon
shall we possess a first-rate Army?
Where, how and when does it expect to
be used?
Army to Be Ready BY April.
Give us one year more, and we'll make
you an Army!" From camp after camp,
responsible commanders echoed that re-
frain. Conjoined was universal doubt
that fortune will grant to the United
States another II months of grace. This
view was founded on general pessimism
as to England's ability to suffer indefi-
nitely the punishment it Is taking. At
headquarters IN Washington. however, a
more hopeful note was audible. On high
authority. the following may be stated
as convictions of the War Department
General staff:
by April the United States Army will
be equal to any task likely to be placed
upon it in the Western Hemisphere, from
(
from Alaska to Chile Should world
events require such a performance, the
Army will be ready next fall to send over
seas-whether Africa, the Mediterra-
mean area or the Far East-an expedi-
tionary force of 100000 men, fully
trained and equipped. In case of emer-
gency. the period can be substantially
shortened" - =! "~.,
Even II the Army never fires a shot at
an enemy according to Gen. George C.
Marshall, Chief Of Staff. it, will more
than pay for itself, whatever the cost.
The very fact that it is in being he de-
clared in an interview with the writer,
gives to the United States weight in
foreign affairs that cannot possibly be
ignored. Moreover. he regards the Army
as mighty insurance for peace.
IF We had been as well prepared in
1917 as we are today" he asserted, I'VE
should never have had to enter the first
World War. Germany would have made
any concession to keep us out"
Troop Leaders Developed.
The present peacetime superiority of
the Army over that dispatched: to the
battleline % years ago was described by
Gen. Marshall as immense Them
he related, we were compelled to send
artillery Officers to the front who had
scarcely fired a battery; whereas today
no artilleryman can obtain commission
as second lieutenant unless he has fired
a battery at least 60 times. Gen. Persh-
ing, 1t was maintained, could not develop
adequate troop leaders until the Meuse-
Argonne offensive. They are now, in
large numbers, being sought out, trained
and appointed to suitable commands.
I'm the World War" continued the
Chief of Staff, 1--WE sent into battle little
more than training units. AS recently
as year ago our divisions existed mostly
in name. During the maneuvers of last
May we were able to put two corps into
action. Until that time, we never had
field army. Today we are organizing
four such armies" .r
These differences were imputed by
Gen. Marshall to plans for the mobiliza-
ton of officers, men and materiel which
had been worked out in the War De-
partment for years, with such detail that
they could be put into effect swiftly and
smoothly, without scrambling or waste
motion" The Army's true expansion he
predicted, will begin next spring, when
supplies and men under the Selective
Service Act begin thronging in on 3 large
scale. ,.->.-....
In reply to questions as to possible
arenas for the Army's employment, Gen.
Marshall contented himself with the
statement that 1--WE must have . force
sufficiently mobile to meet any, situa-
ton"
0fncers In the held, to whom similar
suarass vsrs put ihowsd laas rstsesnes.