Evening star., 1942-08-07
(Second Of a Series.)
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

the Japanese in all their victories
to date-in the Philippines, Java
Sumatra, New Guinea. the Solo
mons, even Wake Island.
They are the tactics which must
be followed for any American ex-
peditionary force on the European
continent.
They are the tactics which would
be required for any German inva-
sion of the British Isles.
They are, in fact. the essential
tactics for almost any military op-
Grafton conceivable on earth today,
except in Russia.
Long Known to Marines.
They constitute, it is likely, the
most fundamental Of all the differ
ences between this war, as it has
developed, and the last war.
1t has been said that amphibious
warfare is a Japanese invention
that 1t is the most revolutionary
new element introduced into mill
tary science since the German
"blitzkrieg." There is some truth,
Amphibious Corps officers say, in
the statement. The Japs, with .
clear picture of their future areas
of operation, began the development
Is years ago. But they actually
have contributed no single new ele-
ment except coordination Of army,
navy and air elements.
All the basic techniques Of this
new style of warfare have been
known to the United States Ma
rines in the past. They have known
how to make landings in the face
Of enemy fire. They have worked
out In minute detail types Of boats
and other equipment probably far
superior to anything in the hands Of
the enemy. Omcers and men have
been trained In all the specific tech
niques OF such landings.
Coordination II Basic.
But amphibious warfare as con-
ceived by the Japanese-and, In
fact, by American Marine ofIicers
years -contemplates action on
much vaster scale. It involves
the landing Of graet armies. It re-
quires the combined efforts Of naval,
military and air units. not merely
in cooperation but in absolute,
split-second coordination.
Maj. Gen. Holland M. Smith,
commandant Of the Marine Base at
Quantico and of the Amphibious
Force, Atlantic Fleet, compares an
amphibious command to q football
team. Troops are the backfield.
The Air Force makes tho end runs.
The Zine" is the Navy. All three
must operate as one unit. TO
achieve this coordination Is the
prime objective Of all the training.
The first American amphibious
force was started many months ago.
It's training and organisation was
intrusted to the Marine Corps be-
cause Of its basic experience In
somewhat similar types OF orsaIii-
zation and operation. But, Gen.
Smith stresses. 1t cannot be con-
sidered in any sense As IN expanded
Marine Corps. It Is something new
In the world. It Is 4 well-nigh per-
feet coordination Of soldiers, sail
ors and flyers who must be trained
together to act - . unit. There Il
no question Of just cooperation
with one another.
Toughest Of All Warfare.
1T Is absolutely absurd" Gen.
Smith says. TO think Of such .
force achieving any success without
constant and repeated practice In
absolute coordination"
"Amphibious warfare" he con.
tinues, rs recognized by Ill ma
tions as the toughest Of all fighting
games"
The commander Of An amphibious
force must be both = soldier and .
sailor to q degree far beyond that
required Of the Marine commander
In the past. He must understand
the tactics Of both services. Above
all he must understand both mill
tary and naval communications sys-
TENS.
While the amphibious force must
be the most closely co-ordinated Of
all fighting organizations. 1t must
maintain this coordination under
the most difncult circumstances
This has involved, Of necessity. the
development Of various oommunica-
tions refinements. No lights can be
shown In the storm and darkness.
It has been necessary to fall back
on radio precisely constructed for
various distances. The so-called
"walky -talky" plays = big part IN
amphibious operations.
It also has been necessary to de-
velop new types Of boats adapted
to scores Of purposes which have
arisen In this new kind Of warfare.
The Amphibious Corps soldier must
know how to handle al these types
some for carrying troops. some
for provisions and small arms. some
for artillery and tanks. A signifl-
cant part Of amphibian tactics Il to
determine the priority order Of