Evening star., 1942-01-28
j. ). and Britain Map
Long.Range Strategy
For Army Expeditions
House Passes 18 Billion
Navy Bill; 6 to 10
A. <. F.s in Field
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Official statements indicated
today that the United States and
Britain have worked out long
term land-sea victory plan for
surprise expeditions Of field army
size to strike suddenly across any
ocean.
Disclosures Of President Roose-
welt, Prime Minister Churchill and
congressional leaders gave broad
outlines of the plan and Congress
rushed legislation to carry 1t out.
The House passed, 388 to o, and sent
to the Senate last night the ST.
722, sos ,474 naval appropriations bill,
including q special emergency pro-
vision for developing amphibious
strategy.
The bill provides $1,000 100000 for
emergency construction of 1,799 spe-
cial vessels. The House Naval At
fairs Committee disclosed in a re-
port that this provision would give
"the necessary ships with which to
conduct the amphibious operations
which 1t is contemplated may be
necessary to prosecute the present
war to successful conclusion"
Depends on U. S. for Ships.
Mr.. Churchill, meanwhile, had
told Parliament that the United
States was being depended on for
transport and supply ships. When
they are ready, he said, I'VE shall
be able to move across the ocean
next year two, three and even four
times as large armies as the con-
siderable forces we are able to ham
die at present"
Although Mr.. Churchill said that
a swift redistribution of Allied forces
was directed on December II, there
was no indication of what may have
been involved beyond President
Roosevelt's assertion in press con-
ference late yesterday that America
was sending all the help it could
to the Southwest Pacific area and
that six to ten American expedi-
tionary forces are In various locali-
ties Of the world.
The redistribution was regarded
as short-range, holding action to
strengthen United Nations lines In
the Pacific and bolster outposts
against sudden Axis thrusts. Be-
yond this immediate defensive ac-
ton was the broader, long-term
strategy of deploying landsea
forces over the whole world.
The Naval Committee report said
there were many confidential de-
tails" about the special type vessels
being built under the emergency
program, and there was speculation
that they would include substantial
numbers of ships for landing opera
tions on hostile shores.
Probe Scope Of Plan.
Increasing amphibious raids on
the Axis-held coasts of Europe,
possibly building up to full-dress
assaults on Norway from the British
Isles and on Italy and the Northern
Mediterranean shore from the
British-held bulge Of Cyrenaica,
were considered likely parts of the
long-range plan.
In the Pacific, the thinly-spread
japanese Army and Navy would be
particularly vulnerable to sudden
blows by a powerful amphibious
force. Japan itself, with its IL main
Islands and 1000 smaller islands,
offers tempting target to such an
expedition, especially If the United
Nations are able to gain Pacific air
superiority.
In the Southwestern Pacific area.
as immediate strategy of the United
Nations is to hold Australia and the
Netherlands East Indies as bases
for Pacific striking force.
While Pacific and Atlantic striking
forces are being built up, the British
and American Navies have as their
main tasks the protection of At
lantic and Pacific supply routes. The
urgency OF this task was emphasized
by the Navys announcement last
night that enemy submarines had
attacked two more American tankers
OH the Atlantic coast, with one sunk
and the fate of the other not i'm
med;ately determined.
Score Considered Good.
Despite the latest attacks, the
Navy's score against Atlantic sub
marines was considered good. Sew
eral are known to have been dis
posed Of and the expeditionary force
to Northern Ireland was escorted
across the ocean without mishap.
This force. described officially as
just sample of very considerable"
numbers yet to go, now has joined
the huge army Britain has been
building up in the six northern
countries since the summer of 1910
against the possibility of a German
invasion of Erie, to the south.
Neutrality of Erie gives the United
Nations the same military problem
which the Allies had in Western
France before German invasion of
the Lowlands. They have to prepare
an expedition to rush into the coun-
try If and when the Germans strike.
but the initiative is with the enemy.
About 200 languages are spoken
in India.