The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-25

OrganlZaClon call TOT.
 There are armored scout cars roaring over the dusty roads with wooden simulations of 50 caliber machine guns mounted on their tracks. There are anti-aircraft and tank batteries that use pole: to represent 6 portion of their guns. Many of the light and medium tanks are not the late models now clanking off Chry- sler and other assembly lines. A number of outfits still are not fully equipped with the new Garand rifle. But despite these deficiencies the new citizen army is being trained to fight as Q highly mobile, highly mechanized, highly armored battle machine. It is 6 very different army from the AEF.
 From buck privates to command ing generals the new army is learning to operate as Q blitz force. To World War veteran the speed and scope of the ma neuvers down here in this ex. tremeiy difficult country are as- founding. The fact that units do not have all the latest type equipment is not Q serious matter right now.
 l94l-NOT 1917 MODEL
 It would be serious if the new army was being nodded into Q reproduction of the 1917 model. It would also be very serious if large scale mass production of the lat- est type of arms was not under way. But 1t is under way. Meall- while this citizen army has little outward resemblance to its World War predecessor. .
 Further, first.hand inquiry in units with simulated equipment disclosed that all the men had training in the real stuff. Every man in the infantry division has had target practice with the Gar and, the available supply of this rifle being rotated for this puf- pose. The same was found to be true in all the other units where equipment shortages existed. Men and officers know the arms and equipment of their respective branches and they are learning to wage war as soldiers of these branches. "{
 That Is the important thing
 in the question of equipment { deficiencies In the army ct pres- 5 ent. These deficiencies are rap-; idly being overcome. It is the
 training that is crucial - and t
 is model Al. ,.>, ,1
 NOTE - Few recall that the nucleus of TIitIer's blitzlrieg re- gions was trained with simulated tanks and mechanical equipment and guns. SHORTAGE OF tE
 GOOD OFFICERS
 Far more serious than the shortage of equipment is the prob lem of able officer personnel.
 This Is of the utmost moment
 because without efficient of-
 icess an army, no matter how
 good and plentiful its arms.
 Is doomed to defeat.
 There is worlds of room for im- provement in the officer corps of this new army. There are now 100000 officers on active duty. of whom 14,000 are regulars. Most of the rest are national guards men and reserves. These officers are patriotic and conscientious men; many. of them are serving their country at real personal sac- rifice. But at the same time considerable portion of them are unfit for their johs and they will have to be weeded out for the good of the army. And that goes for some of the regulars, too, par ticularly. in the higher ranks.
 The weedEng out process, al.
 ready quietly initiated by the
 War Department, won't he easy.
 Many guardsmem have political
 pull. There will Dc a lot of
 heartbrealks. But the purge
 must be pushed if the new army
 is to become a real army.