Evening star., 1940-05-12
Lodge Urges Joint Committee
TO Formulate Military Policy
Area to Be Defended
Is First Problem.
Senator Soys
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

| AANdl1s Vi massachusetts.
Such . policy would cover the
whole problem of national defense
after it has been determined Just
what territory Is to be defended.
Senator Lodge said yesterday he
intended to offer a resolution in
the Senate calling for the appoint
ment Of joint congressional commit
tee on military policy, composed of
Ave senators and five representatives.
while this committee goes to
work on the formulation OF . mill
tary policy" he said, Congress
should take recesses of . few weeks
duration, but be ready to return to
Washington to put into effect the
defense measures after the policy
has been determined.
mo Military Policy"
"At present we have no military
policy. We have an inadequate
Army, inadequately equipped. The
Navy is in far better case. But 1t
is essential We have the land and
air forces needed to defend the
United States from attack. Before
we can decide how many men and
how many planes we require, how
ever, we settle on our policy, TAX
ing into account just what we are
to defend. We must decide whether
that means the continental United
States, the island possessions and
the Panama Canal. or whether we
are to go farther afield, as we would
have to do to make always ef1ec-
tive the Monroe Doctrine. II we
are going to look to the safety Of
the rest of the Western Hemisphere,
we should have a military policy
that would cover such defense"
Naval Air Expansion Planned.
Meanwhile after conference at
the Navy Department., Chairman
| Vinson of the House Naval Affairs
Committee informed newsmen yes
terday that comprehensive pro-
gram for expansion of the Navy's
air force would be presented to the
committee next Thursday. He de-
| clined to divulge its details, but said
it would be broad enough to insure
the enlarging fleet all the aircraft
and pilots it needed.
Representative Vinson pointed out
that, while pending legislation would
authorize maximum Of $500 planes
for the Navy, its top limit of trained
reserve pilots was only 5000. Indi-
cations were that the new program
would materially augment the pilot
training program and possibly pro-
vide for admission of student pilots
to the Navy from civilian schools and
colleges as well as from the Naval
Academy and the naval air training
station at Pensacola, Fla.
Army Funds Discussed.
Chairman May Of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee told report
ers that he had asked the War De-
partment to submit to his committee
early this week full details of its
needs to bring the Army up to full
mechanical fighting strength.
He indicated that. while authority
already existed for three n1echanized
divisions. military leaders were talk
ing Of adding several more. At pres
ent. the Army has only one mech
anized cavalry brigade.
Representative May said the
Army probably would have to ask
Congress for additional appropria-
tions of $500, 900 900 or more, beyond
the $7a5, ,000. 900 already passed by
the House at this session, and he
said sentiment was developing in
favor Of diverting funds from other
emergency and regular appropria-
tions such as for river and harbor
improvements, relief and flood con-
troll to defense purposes.
Equipment Lacking.
Senator Lodge said that the war
conditions in Europe and Asia, par
ticularly the recent developments in
Norway, Belgium and the Neither
lands, show the imperative need of
America preparing to meet any at
tack that may come. Prior to the
actual preparation, he said, q mill
tary policy must be framed.
Senator Lodge said as things now
stand, this country has approxi-
mately 223,000 men and officers
in the Regular Army, and another
100000 in the National Guard and
reserves.
I'VE have, however, complete
equipment, including the proper
arms, for only 75,00O men," COM
mented the Senator. He did not
blame the Republicans or the Demo-
Gratis for this condition, but the feel
Ing In this country after the World
War-a feeling which had much to
do with the lack of military prepara-
ton in England.
"The military problem today is
very different from that in 1917" he
said. Now armies are motorized
and move quickly. The air forces
are greater and everything has been
speeded up. In the last war, it was
question of digging in and stick
ing. 1t Is very different now"
SHADOW Factories" Urged.
Another question which must be
determined in connection with mill
tary preparedness, Senator Lodge
"S oAA"t Va oAPPyAA8 Vic ~ uAo
ana equipment for the Army when
1t is expanded In time OF war. He
suggested that shadow factories"
be erected, capable, for example, of
turning out great quantities of ma
chine guns and anti-aircraft guns
quickly. They could be built and
left idle under guard, with all the
machinery creased and protected.
That might be done by the
w. P. A." he suggested. The alter
native would be to add greatly to the
Government arsenals. and to keep
them up, which would be more
costly. II private concerns were
called upon, their plants, once ex-
panded to meet these needs, would
be useless . great part Of the time.
Mr.. Lodge laid great stress on the
need to improve the defenses Of the
Panama Canal, which might be ut
the mercy of attack or Of sabotage.
The whole SlIhtect 0f nationAl -.