Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-11-27
Fact And Opinion
GERMANY NOT EASILY
VANQUISHED
By e. C. Stengelsen.

Ill
GERMANY NOT EASILY
VANQUISHED
At the outbreak of the war, Brit
aims air force consisted of 176 squad
rons. The German luftwaffe con-
sisted of 420, plus more than 1000
aircraft in reserve 1t has since been
greatly expanded. The most con-
sentative estimate of monthly pro-
duction, before the conquest of neigh
boring countries, was 1900. Today
it is probably two times as great. II
is probably not too much to say that
after deducting even such large losses
as her enemies claim she has sus-
tanned, she still has some 10000 to
10000 more than she had at the be-
ginning of the war.
While the combined production of
America and Britain will doubtless
ultimately exceed Germany's, the fact
is that her air force will continue
growing. BY the time we have reached
the preponderance needed to con-
troll the air preliminary to a sue
ceSSful invasion of the continent, we
would need upward of 10000 to rs 900
planes.
1t is estimated that the total per-
sonnet needed to keep heavy bomb
er in the air is 80 men. The small
er ships would require less. But
the overall average would probably
| not be less than 20. Thus, an air
force of ~ million men would be
needed.
l will leave it to the intervention
lists to explain where Britain would
find enough land for the necessary
flying fields.
But the air force alone could not
conquer Europe. Great armies would
be required. It is estimated that
with Russia disposed of, Hitler would
have from six to 10 million men
available.
Britain can furnish, say, three mil
lion. We would have to provide the
remainder. An AEF of from five to
10 million men would be needed.
But how would we maintain them?
An American soldier, fighting in
Europe, needs IL tons of shipping to
keep him supplied. Thus, an Ameri-
can army of five million men would
need go million tons of shipping. To
make this clear, it may be mentioned
that at its peak the British merchant
marine did not exceed rs million
tons.
Indeed it is the problem of trans
portation that would make the VEN
ture impossible. Hitler has airships
aplenty. Out of the great numbers
of young men who have been trained
as pilots, the number lost probably
forms only relatively small per-
centage.
The problem Germany is facing in
Russia is transportation of supplies
1t is having the same difficulty with
respect to Russia that we should have
with respect to Germany. And in
fighting on its home soil and near
its sources of supplies, Russia has
the same advantage against Germany
that Germany would have against us.
Our situation now and during the
World war are in nowise parallel.
Then we could land anywhere in
Europe except along the German,
Dutch and Belgian coast Today,
every port except the Spanish and
Portuguese is held by the Nazis.
Then, we had as allies, Britain,
France, Italy, Japan, Roumania, Ser
bia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal and
Montenegro. Their navies were avail
able to keep the sea lanes open and
our troops transported and supplied. |
Today, we have only Britain as an
ally.
Then, Germany and Hun
gary had Turkey and Bulgaria as
allies. Today, Germany, Austria,
Hungary and Slovakia have Italy, |
Roumania and Finland as active al
lies, and Spain, Bulgaria and Japan
as acknowledgement allies.
Most of us would be willing to help
crush Hitlerism; but as sensible,
thinking men we want to know, first,
that our interventionist leaders have
at least some vague notion how it
can be done.
Our governor and junior senator,
particularly, would do well to have
their explanation ready when they
come urging their interventionist
ideas on the hard-headed voters of