Browning chief., 1941-02-14
GENERAL
MUGS 8,
JON HNSoN
,....6.lzHc.','::: c Z, ::
u.As s..~ unuS,,
Washingtoa, d. C
LEASE-LEND QUESTIONS

That rule is to test every proposed
new action by asking three ques-
tions in the order named. W Why
do it at all? (2) Why do it now?
(3) Why do it this way?
II it gets by Question No. with
a good answer, it must reply to No.
lotherwise it stops there. Only if
No. 2 is satisfactory does it proceed.
If this happens, its acceptance, re-
lection or amendment will depend
ON the answer to question No. 3.
There are few earnest, honest,
courageous and sincere men, like
Colonel Lindbergh, who answer
question No. (why do it at all?)
thus: There is no good reason"
But the answer Of a large majority
of sloganeered public opinion and
also of informed authorities is:
Because such aid to Britain as will
help to stop threat of unfriendly
European action westward is enlisutt-
ened self-interest."
II seems a sufficient answer, so
we 60 on to No. 2: why do it
now?" There is less certainty about
that based largely on the objection
that it will interfere with our own
terribly laggard and lacking defen-
sive preparation. But let US assume
that, by wise administration, prop
er balance can be struck. While no
important aid can be effective this
year without stripping our own de-
tense, and while we may face an en-
tirely different situation next year,
yet time saved now will be time
saved in 1912. So let US say to the
proposal at the barrier of question
No. 2: Pass friend and all's we'll"
That brings us to Question No. 3
why do il this XaY2-the particular
way proposed by the lease-lend
bill?
The bill authorizes the President
in his own unlimited discretion to
lease, lend or give away any part
of all the billions of dollars of prop
erty the government owns to any
nation he elects and every dollars
worth of stuff for which congress
has appropriated or may hereafter
appropriate further billions. That
includes great treasure in gold,
silver, copper, petroleum, cotton,
corn, wheat and vast equity and first
lien interests in much of the entire
pool of property in America. 1t in
cludes all Of our military and naval
airplanes, warships, tanks, guns and
ammunition.
There is overwhelming further OBJ
lection. The "Chief of Military,
Naval and Financial Supply" of
warning nation is as much response
Bile for its victory or defeat as its
ommander-in-chief. He undertakes
control of its strategy SO far as
logistics are concerned-and that is
exactly as far as armies and navies
are concerned. We are not yet in
this war and we don't want to see
our President responsible for its
conduct.
The answer to question three (why
do it this way?) is DON'T"
BAYONET TACTICS
As more reports from the Al
banian battle come through, it is
more apparent that the skirted
Greek equivalents of the World war
killed Scotch "Damen Won Hoelle"
Cadies from HelD have added new
postscript to this war-or rather,
very old one. They have proved
once more the effectiveness Of cold
steel, breast to breast, even in mod
ern mechanized war.
The suggestion comes to me from
Roy Tinney, newspaper colleague,
but an ex-bayonet-instructor of the
late world unpleasantness. Inter
preting current reports, he says of
these Greek bayoneteers: "They
duck dive bombers, detour around
tanks and ignore machine guns un-
til they are in thrusting distance of
Pegler's bums Then they proceed
to fight as their forefathers fought.
The Evzones' ancient method of
fighting so offended Mussolini's in
vincible legions they simply had to
leave the field"
No conclusion about this war can
be made too much simplified but, on
the other hand, nothing should be
unduly complicated. Old military
principles never adjourn "sine die"
The urge Of troops for physical con-
tact i the most effective psychology
that can be cultivated.
The Germans, in 1918, feared the
bsyonets and -ear-slitting knives OF
The Seneealess above all weapons
''As Rome shortened her swords she
bruadened her borders" II u still
saosahHfnl wfe4har vne, can deatrov