Evening star., 1941-08-16
Stimson
Continued From First Page)

fighting world, problems of morale
will be dissipated in a general wave
of enthusiasm for defense prepara-
tions, the Associated Press reported.
An effort to impress on the troops
the nearness and gravity of such
dangers was described as the pur-
pose behind Secretary of War Stim-
sons unusual broadcast to the
Army last night in which he told
the men they were being trained
to fight ION any of the many and
varied terrains which surround our
country from which an attack may
come"
Basing his speech on congressional
enactment this week of the 18-
month service extension bill, Mr..
Stimson said he realized that addi-
tional time in uniform meant sac
rifices for the soldiers, but he added
Sthat out of your devotion there is
being created the most effective
fighting force which this country
has ever known in time of peace"
Debate Lowered Morale.
Some Army men said that pro-
longed and bitter debate over the
bill, involving heated discussion as
to whether this country was in real
danger, had tended to lower morale
of the troops, but now that the de.
bate was ended and the policy gov
erning service extension settled, this
situation would eventually right
itself.
The Secretary of War declared
there were many points at which
German or Japanese forces-which
he described as composed of veteran
troops of professional efficiency
might attack the United States. In
this connection he mentioned bases
in both the Atlantic and Pacific and
continued:
THE present attack of Germany
on Russia, who has always been a
peaceful neighbor of ours in the Pa
cific, now brings out into sharp
prominence the Importance of
CAlaskan and Aleutian IslanO out
posts. Japanese newspapers are al
ready beginning to tell us the trou-
BILE we may expect to have in Alaska
if Germany conquers Russia
But the most dangerous avenue
of attack" Mr.. Stimson declared, is
through South or Central America,
and he made it clear that in his
opinion this danger would be in
creased extremely if the Nazis should
move into Dakar, French West AZ
rican port opposite Brazil, as re-
suit of Vichy's policy of collaborat-
ing with Germany.
IF, by combining an air attack
with a fifth column revolution" he
said, IAN Axis power should succeed
in making a lodgment upon the
coast of South America, we should
have real task indeed; for it would
not be difficult for an enemy lodged
there to get within easy bombing
distance of the Panama Canal"
Apparently in reply to arguments
advanced during the service extern
sion debate that the Government
was planning to use troops abroad,
Mr.. Stimson told the Army that
1--WE have not been seeking any wild
adventures in foreign wars; we have
not been planning any expeditionary
force for the benefit of other ma
tions."
Defense Is Whole Purpose.
The sole purpose of the arma-
ment program, he continued, is de-
fensive. Already, he said, Amer
lean troops stand guard from Ice
land to British Guiana and from
Alaska to Panama and successful
attack on any of the outposts they
garrison would make necessary a
major military effort to drive OF"
the enemy.
But holding even greater danger
of invasion than the capture of out
posts, he declared, would be Ger
man defeat of Britain, which he
said would mean naval superiority
for the Axis powers.
Then, indeed, we would be face
to face with a danger which even
our isolationists would recognize as
the danger of INVASION" he said.
Germany has trained army Of
more than 10000 men, Mr.. Slim
son said, and an air force of more
than 100000, while the Japanese
have 100000 men under arms. He
described all these as veteran
troops, hardened and well equipped.
Must Excel Germans.
"The Germans are now going into
battle with their song, Today Eu-
rope is Ours, Tomorrow the Whole
World" Mr.. Stimson continued.
Their skill and their power can
hardly be overestimated."