Evening star., 1942-07-09
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

American tanks are doing their
part and doing it well in the desert
battle which has ragged through
Libya and into Egypt" Senator
Lodge, Republican, OF Massachusetts,,
said today, commenting on the con-
f1ict he watched as a United States
military observer for more than
month.
There are two American tank
models in use over there" said the
tall, rangy Senator who holds ma
jor's commission in the armored
forces of the United States. An
American light tank, 10 or IL tons
in weight. which is very fast. This
tank is not built to sit down on a
ridge and slug it out, but for re-
connaissance work it is excellent.
The other type is the Gen. Grant,
the M-3, 30-ton medium tank. 1t
has heavy armor and carries a rs
nm. gun. I never saw it outranged
by the Germans in the desert battle.
It is as good or better than any
tank used on either side.
1T was this tank" Senator Lodge
continued, that the Americans, sent
over there for combat experience
and military observation, fought for
two days. They did an outstanding
job. Their craftsmanship was ex-
cellent. They scored eight or nine
direct hits on Nazi tanks and
stopped that many"
Two u. S. Tanks Break Down.
The Senator said that it was not
possible to tell whether an enemy
tank was destroyed" but that it
was evident that when a tank was
stopped, it was out of action. Two
of the American tanks engaged, he
said, suffered mechanical break
downs but were pulled out by others
and put in shape Immediately.
The officers and men showed
their sound training for tank war
fare" he added. "and that Is what
gives the greatest chance for sur
vival in battle, and victory"
He commented that all Of the
Americans engaged in the tank bat
tie had come through without a
scratch" He himself was not in a
tank on those particular days, al
though he was at the control point
during the fighting.
The Americans who were sent to
Libya for combat experience and
observation, he said, were mighty
lucky. They were able to get what
they went for Immediately. Their
mission was accomplished and they
are coming back to this country to
act as instructors.
Desert = Tactical Paradise.
Senator Lodge spoke Of the amaz-
ing conditions under which the war
fare is conducted in the desert. ut
has been described as the tactician's
paradise and the quartermaster's
nightmare" he said. THE desert is
wide open. With the exception Of
ridges there are practically no OBJ
structions to the movement Of
armed forces. They can be moved
about just as though on a checker
board. The problem of supplies,
however, is very different.
Without compass, the soldier
would be absolutely lost In the desert.
When night falls everything is dis
persed so as not. to bner an easy
target for bombing. Everything Is
200 Or 800 yards away from every
thing else after you bivouac. You
might have to 60 that distance to
get food. Without q compass 1t
would be impossible for you to find
your way back. Also. If there is a
sandstorm compass is absolutely
essential. I went through two sand
storms In the desert. What the
Arab calls 'hamsin.' You cannot
see your hand In front Of your face.
Senator Lodge said that he had
been much hotter in this country at