The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-06
Battle Of Louisiana" Won By General Mud; Army to Get Fairer Test In CarOlinaS
BY THOMAS M. JOHNSON NEA Service Military Writer

MN&A GNA WAGC 4NAAAANNNAJ sNAANNA
 washington, oct. 6 - The first honest goodness test of how the united States Army would stand up i'm real battle is just beginning. The great field maneuverS from Oc- toher 6 Co November 30 in the Caro- linaa will answer the country's ques- Eons How're they doin'?"
 This is SO not alone because the s'Battle of the Carolinas" will cap the climax of the whole summers mimic war. It is also true because, although the just-completed Bat tIe oe Louisiana" showed more men ia action than will the Carolina phase, the conditions on the south ern battlefield were abnormal in the extreme.
 Palms and hurricanes so aug inented the already extensive mud component in western Louisi- ana that wheels, trucks and human feet were largely rutted in roads which became in reality causeways flanked by swamps. Daily news dis patches have not made clear how, from Q military viewpoint, that complicated yet over -simplif1ed the whole business. Every second lieu tenant knows that defense of causeway is the easiest of all op- eFntions.
 Nor did mud and hurricanes rive tanks and the air force nor nal opportunities to learn to work together, which was a major goal of tlae whole affair. Ditto anti-airtank defense. Thus, such episodes as the : wiping out of famous Lieutenant General Ben Lear's considerable force by horsed cavalry who raided itB gasoline supply and Navy dive hCTnbers who blasted 1t, while inter- esting, were hardly true to life. This claah of the Second and Third Arm ! ies was not 8 fair test of the Army's preparedness.
 Yet the maneuvers brought to- gether 340,00O officers and men, who learned a lot and, as General George c. Marshall said, helped tlae Army on its way to becoming a powerful machine with all Its parts in close cooperation" That was the main object to teach teamwork among infantry arttl- 1ery, aviation, tanks.
 THE ARMY'S
 'REPORT CARD"
 As indicated here by official re- ports and opinions, here is how the report card reads today:
 Good
 Equipment is increasing but we are dhort of ammunition, tanks. anti-1ank guns, radio sets. Equip ment was well kept up, despite the mud. One armored division travelled seven million tank Eniles," lost only two tanks.
 The Air Force Is headed for worlds best" given more planes and training. Quality of the pres ent wlanes and airnen is fine, though youngsters especially need Co learn cooperation with ground troops, which Is much below the German standard.
 Ncncoms and men in general arc the worlds cleverest, not only an handling equipment but in handling themselves. Physically robust, they eat up long marches.
 The activity of the maneuvers S improving morale. which Is probably lover the hump" of- Slcers say. But by 1918 standards. ehe discipline still is sometimes slcppy.
 Bad
 Rad, compared with tn e men, are the officers. Perhaps 20 per cent should be fired - some gen. erals, but especially younger men commanding smaller units. Many don't know the ABC of battle how to feel out an enemy, pro- tact their own troops, communi- cate. Many think the way to show initiative is to go 1t alone instead of working with their neighbors, especially in gathering and for warding information about the enemy. The officer situation will improve with experience gained - plus an expected purge" and the infusion of new blood now working up from the ranks.
 Trafi1c was not always too we'll regulated, but that condition. too, is improving. The armored force probably needs more flexible or- eanization. As for the anti-tank defense: much more experience Is eneeded to teach this new section w~------------------'-- '----.--------- ~RW~~R AR RN