The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-03-30

made up Of old
fashioned surface fighters and
headed by Undersecretary Of War
Robert Z. Patterson and Undersec-
rotary Of the Navy James V. For
restal, who. according to the avia-
ton specialists. don't realize that
planes are more important today
than grounding soldiers and sea
strength, both put together.
The fact is, it's contended that
experience in the last war is a posi-
tive handicap in this one to veter-
ans OF the earlier conflict. because
they try TO apply the rules they
learned then and they're entirely
unsuited TO present conditions.
Our younger officers, ashore and
afoat, are spoken OF as a thorough
~ efficient bunch, but the higher
command is in the hands mainly
OF older men, survivals from the
19l4-'l8 era, who reached their cur
rent posts through seniority. A man
born long enough ago TO have seen
service in those days, the critics
assert, ought 10 retire, leaving
chaps with modern military educa-
tons to deal with the prevailing
situation.
Macarthur an Exception
General Douglas Macarthur,
though, isn't accused Of doing any
doddering.
He was in World War No. all
right, but nobody refers to HIM
as a back number. Contrariwise.
there's considerable agitation in
favor Of giving him charge Of our
whole armed effort, on the same
basis as his status already, but as
yet limited to the southwestern Pa
cific.
Even the most unqualified pro-
aWationists have no objection to
HIS control Of their pet branch Of
the service, in connection with
land troops and sea forces.
For one thing, they have the most
implicit confidence in his all-around
management Of every detail as
signed to him.
Aside from that, however, or In
identally to it, they have an idea
hat he'll somewhat subordinate
and and sea to air power. That
suits them heartily. They resent
having aviation treated as an Army
and Navy adjunct, but they are
more than willing to have the Army
and Navy regarded as aviation ad-
juncts. That, they say. is the cor
rect way to look at it; aviators
having attained an objective, it's
admittedly desirable to have some
groundlings to occupy it or some
warships TO scare off rsiding sub
marines when there happen to be
no flyers handy to spill depth
charges on them.
It's impossible, OF course, for
non-professional to weigh the mer-
its of the controversy.
Indeed, it's impossible for q pro
fessional TO do so. The terrestrial
scrappers sllege one thing and the
cloudlanders aliege something dif-
ferent. II obviously will take the
progress Of events to decide the Is
sue.
The aviators' story Is that the
British are about as back num-
bered as we are, in the atmosphere.
Their account is that that Is why
the Axis has had a bit the best of
the fighting thus far-except on
the Russian front. 10 be sure, but
they give the Soviets credit for be-
ing air-conscious ahead Of us, the
democracies.
Germany Forced to II
Germanys aviatorial lead Is at
tributed TO the fact that the last
wars terms left the Reich so limit
ed on the surface that il simply
HAD to go aloft or remain no
where.
Italy hzzled all around.
But the Japs have to have 1t
handed to them.
They sensed what was coming
and were loaded for bear when the
time arrived.
Japan was under-assessed. All
authorities admit IL.
II was agreed that the Nippon
folk were middling good imitators,
but the consensus was that their
limitations were faulty-that their
ships looked o. X, but wouldn't
float on even keels in emergencies,
that their gunnery was Inaccurate,
that their planes were undepend-
able. All hands recognized that
they were vicious scrappers. but
there was a deal Of pooh-pooh-ing
Of their equipment.
II has proved 10 be as good as
anybodys. and their geography is
thousands Of miles in their favor.
Now let's bomb them right at
home" holler the aviatora.