Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-01

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produce the most effective results.
Unfortunately, with the incoming
class, that ratio will be increased
to 3.79 students per plane. The Air
Corps is COMPRISING its training so
as to produce 10000 qualified Army
pilots instead of 1000 graduates by
next June 80.
Sortage in Engines.
Already there is deficiency in
the required number of B. T. 9's and
B. T. las at Randolph Field. The
latter, which officers termed the
best training planes in the world"
are no longer being acquired by the
Army, it was said.
The shortage in engines is more
serious than the shortage in spare
parts. Since the training of flying
cadets in larger numbers depends
on the ability of the aircraft indus
try to make delivery of planes, the
burden of responsibility rests largely
on industry. Already graduates be-
ing turned out at the advanced
schools are being used for instruc-
tors.
The Army Is making rapid strides
to meet its goal of 400 900 trained
men in q infantry divisions, of
which 10 are National Guard, 4
armored divisions, 2 of mechan-
lied cavalry and all necessary sup
porting troops. How long it will
take to clothe and equip fully this
huge peacetime Army with all the
weapons and implements of war is
another matter. There are some of
the more optimistic who think it
can be done in year. Most agree
on two years.
Rome was not built in a day, you
hear, nor was the great German
army which devastated France and
the Low Countries. Responsible
commanders realize the impatience
OF the public and remind that it
took Germany seven years of pa
tient self-sacrifice and expenditure
of unified efforts to build up its war
machine. What Germany did in
seven years we can do in two years,
perhaps not on so large a scale but
certainly as good and as effective
In comparison said one of the high
est ranking generals.
Results Beginning to Show.
Certainly the results of our initial
efforts are beginning to show and
II the problem of procurement is
solved, the Army can be depended
on to do the rest. The administra-
tons policy of $3.50 thumb rule
IN supplying Britain with American
defense material-planes, tanks and
WeaponS-as it comes out of the fac
tories must be taken into any con-
Slderation of the time element.
Most officers accept the policy as
an essential measure for American
defense at this crucial time-a shield
behind which America can find time
10 mobilize its own protective force
Ihere is no denying, however. that
rigid adherence to the thmub rule
SLOW up the arming and euuipping
OF our own Army in proportion to
the amounts OF material exported.
pollcy OF sharing with Britain would
Inc United States Army is inn
measurably better off in organiza-
ton and strength than it was before
the expansion program began. 1t
must be remembered that funds in
large amounts did not become avail
able until June and not to any ap-
preclable extent until early fall
Only recently has materiel been de-
Hvered in effective quantities and
the great bulk of the Army supplies
and equipment, such as uniforms,
planes, ammunition and weapons
are yet to come from factories and
arsenals.
Progress in Housing.
The man power available is far in
advance of housing accommodations
although encouraging progress is
being made in providing the latter.
The administration wisely enough
delayed the induction of National
Guardsmen and selective service
men until they could be properly
housed. At Fort Benning, Ga, pri-
vate constructors are working day
and night to build a cantonment
camp for the 1000 men of the I'd
Armored Division, now quartered in
tents.
In most cases the Government
itself is preparing the utilities at its
greatly expanding posts, with men
working in a single daily shift of
regulated hours. They cannot keep
pace with the private contract work.
The barracks and cantonments
are far better built than those
erected for the World War soldiers.
In the mild Southern climate many
of the men prefer the privacy of