The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-26

The New England industrial area would be primary objective of any foreign power invading the United States, declared Col. B. F. Miller, chief of staff of the First Corps area, in 8 recent address at the En- gineers' club, Boston. He men, toned Waterbury as one of the key cities in defense production and one of the cities which any invader would first seek to control.
 Any attempt at an invasion of New England cannot be halted by stronger Notifications at important coast points, Col. Miller said, since the blitzkrieg technique makes it unnecessary to land at major ports. An American invasion, he said, would probably be attempted from Canada, by way of the Connecticut Valley or Maine route.
 Natural Gateway.
 History has shown," said Colonel Miller, that the natural gateway for invasion from across the Atlan- tic is by way of the St. Lawrence and the Champlain and Hudson River valleys.
 Tn my opinion the modern air- plane and land warfare of move ment by motorized equipment has caused changes. I am of the opin- ion that attacks by air will prob ably follow the St. Lawrence-Cha plain Valley route but the bombing plane will render impossible the transport of troops and supplies through the narrow, tortuous chan nel in the St. Lawrence from Que- bee to Montreal.
 "Land operations by motorized troops might operate from Quebec by way of. the Connecticut Valley or the Jackman, Me, route, or both in combination with forces landing at the harbors and beaches of the Canadian Maritime Provinces and the harbors and beaches of our New England coast"
 ''It would be almost impossible for the United States to carry on mili- tary operations should hostile power occupy that portion of the United States northeast of 8 line from the Delaware Water Gap to the western exit of the Erie Canal In the New England portion of this area we find factories producing small arms and ammunition, air. plane engines, machine tools, pro- jectiles and fuses for cannon, cloth and finished uniforms, shoes, anti aircraft cannon and their car- riages, fire control equipment, com- ponent parts for shell fuses, and also the completed products and many other munitions, machines and products that require the skill full hands and the resourceful heads of New Englanders.
 Primary Objective.
 "The geographical location of New England makes 1t 8 natural gate- way for invasion and will also make it a primary objective for any hoS- tile power. The road system of New England is well adapted for warfare of movement by motorized units of an invader or for us in de- fense. The many harbors and beaches, unless they are defended by mobile forces. by anti-aircraft defenses, by air forces, and in cer- tain cases important harbors by fixed defenses, may provide means for the landing of mechanized units which can then 'blitzkrieg' to se- cure the important defended har. bors for use as overseas bases.
 "Take the area Boston-Worces- ter Springfield Pittsfield Wa terbury Hartford Bridgeport New Haven Providence. This area is, in my opinion, the most vital or critical area in the United States to furnish the necessities for mak- ing war. Therefore. the occupation of this area or the destruction or crippling of its shops and factories would naturally be primary ob- jective of any hostile military power. The defense of this area Is likewise a most important military problem to be solved, should we be- required to defend this country"
 Formerly" said Colonel Miller, i've fortified the Important harbors for defense against hostile naval vessels. Landings at minor harbors or beaches lacking proper facilities for overseas bases were compensated for and opposed by land forces which. as 6 rule. had sufileeint time for preparation Of defensive opera tlons due to the then slow speed of military movement by marching and by hoFse-dFawn equipment.
 Confidence Expressed.
 '-rhe speed of the modern tank, motor vehicle and motor cars with