Evening star., 1941-09-02

which means an-out sacrifice on the
part Of all our citizens. So long
as our defense progress is measured
in official statements by percentages
Of some previous production period,
the people, of course, will never
know the facts. We are told from
time to time by our officials that
the production now of tanks, for
example, Is coo per cent over the
production last December, and pro-
duction Of other equipment Is ex-
pressed In similar language. AS not
a single modern effective tank Of
the design now approved was pro-
duced last December, production
figure Of 300 per cent of zero still
means zero, and such statements
are likely to be misleading to the
public.
Just two years ago the war in
Europe began. In this period, Ger
many has conquered and now occu-
pies IA nations. The conquests were
made by the effective use of superior
military equipment, the co-ordina-
tion of huge tanks on the land and
dive bombers in the air, compile
mented by all types of offensive and
defensive equipment, adequately
manned by trained personnel and
with ample reserves to meet any
reverses.
Accounting Should Be Made.
At the end of these two long years
of ruthless and desperate struggle
with the whole world engulfed in
war, save only the Western Hem
isphere, you and I and every other
American citizen has the right-in
fact, in this free country it is our
duty-to ask of those in authority
for an accounting of what has been
done to prepare our country for de-
fense and to give to England quick
aid so vital for our own protection.
Let us not duplicate here the
errors made in France and England.
1t is a gigantic task to which we
have set our hands. What have we
undertaken? We have undertaken
to arm the United States of Amer
lea to an extent greater than any
other nation or group OF hostile
nations in the world. We have un-
dertaken to protect the Western
Hemisphere. We recognize that our
safety lies only In our strength.
Then we have agreed to provide to
the democracies, especially England,
the arms these nations need; to
become an arsenal for the democ-
racies of the world.
The magnitude of this task is en-
phasized by the fact that Congress
has so far appropriated and au-
thorized the colossal sum of So bill
lions of dollars to pay for this un-
dertaking. This sum will be greatly
increased, as even now the admin
istration contemplates asking for
five billion dollars more for lend
lease purposes. 1t is possible and
probable that even without our
fighting participation In the war the
cost of the program we have as
sumed will reach 100 billions Of
dollars for military purposes alone.
In fact, this is the cost Gen. Mar
shall estimated to be the military
effort of Germany up to the begin
ming of the war.
The sum of So billion dollars,
which has already been appropriated
and authorized, is equal to about
one-seventh of the total actual
wealth of America, according to the
most reliable estimates, a wealth
the citizens of America have been
accumulating by industry and fru-
gality throughout the many years
since our Republic was founded.
The anticipated ultimate cost of 100
billions of dollars is more than one
fourth of this estimated wealth.
And remember, these new costs must
be pyramided upon an already top
heavy and burdensome public in
debtedness incurred by profiigate
peacetime spending.
Delays Lengthen War.
Speed in the achievement of the
program is its greatest and most i'm
portant factor Speed in sending
vital military equipment to England
will shorten the war. The delays
that have occurred and are occur
ring will lengthen the war. Speed
in our own production for defense
means our own security. Hitler does
not wait for his adversaries to pre-
pare. He strikes when they are un-
prepared, and this accounts for his
victories.
This is a mechanical war of great
tanks, huge bombing planes and all
of war so co-ordinated
as to be more effective in destruction
than in any other war in the worlds
history.
Andre Maurois, renowned French
author, said after the fall of France:
"It is no mystery, but as trag-
ically simple explanation, the battle
of France was not lost in the spring
of 1910 but between 1885 and 1899 in
the factories of France. 1t is not so
much a military defeat as an In
dustrial defeat. France worked 40
hours a week and Germany 80
hours"
Ire failure of France to do the
work and make the sacrifices essen
tial for her defense destroyed her
nation as a democracy. 1t gave Eng
land the closest call in the long and
great history of that nation. Should
we not profit by these examples?
The overwhelming sentiment of a
majority of the American people de-
mand that America be prepared so
as to be impregnable to any attack,
whether it comes from the Atlantic,
tha Pac}f7c or hoth. that we have