Evening star., 1941-07-29
PhiIippine Defense

fnIlIppIne DerenSe
That American policy with respect
to the Philippine Islands is under
going a change is indicated by Presi-
dent Roosevelt'S orders creating
THE United States Army Forces in
the Far East" and placing them in
command of General Douglas Mac
Arthur, U. A, retired, who has
been recalled to active duty and
given new rank as lieutenant gen.
eral. Amid assertions by some mill
tary experts and by some quasi
experts that successful defense of
the Philippine archipelago is in
feasible, the United States in 1884
adopted the Philippine Independence
Act, under which this Government
decided gradually to cut the political
bonds which bound the islands to
"the States" General Macarthur,
having retired, went to the Philip
pines in 1885 to assist the common
wealth in organizing and training its
own army. This army was to be built
around the old Philippine Constabu-
larry.
In 1886 the Philippine government
launched a comprehensive defense
plan, designed, it was announced,
Ito give pause to the most ruthless
and powerful of aggressors. This
program called for navy" consist
ing of several score torpedo boats
and other small craft, an air force
of $50 planes and an army consisting
of $500 regulars, with $50 officers,
and a reserve corps of an ultimate
strength of 100000 men, The pres
ent size of the Philippine army is
variously estimated at from $4,000
to more than 100000 well-trained
men. Discrepancies in the estimates
probably arise from differing views
as to the degree of training which
many of the reservists have under
gone.
1t is interesting to consider the
conflicting claims which have been
made from time to time as to the
vulnerability of the archipelago and
the practicability of defending it
from all-out attack. The American
High Commissioner to the Philip
| pines, Francis B. Sayre. a year ago
was quoted as expressing belief that
not even the whole strength, at that
time. of the United States Army
could successfully defend the islands.
A month later President Manuel L.
Quezon declared he doubted whether
a would-be invader could be sue
cesSfully fought off, even if every
Filipino were armed and thoroughly
trained. Other Philippine leaders
expressed similar miSgivingS.
But the developing threat of war
in the Far East has tended to revive
interest in defense of the Philippines
and while the doubterS may have not
changed their inward convictions,
most of them have begun to clamor
for stronger defenses and for closer
cooperation with the United States
in its Far Eastern defense plans.
| General Macarthur, distinguished
soldier that he is. has made an
exhaustive study of the problem Of
defending the islands, and is con-
vinced they can be held unless an
invader is prepared to pay terrific
cost for their conquest. "The
battle would have to be brought to
these (Philippine) shores" he has
declared, $50 that the full strength
of the enemy would be relatively
vitiated by the viciSSitudes of an
! overseas expedition" Japan's forces
already have been weakened by the
protracted Chinese incident" And
the combined naval and military
! forces of the United States, Great
Britain and the Netherlands Indies
have been materially strengthened
in the past year or so. 1t is the gen.
eral consensus of the experts now
that defense of the Philippines Is
highly essential to security Of the
United States, British possessions
and Dutch colonies.