Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-12
Ninson Cites African
10 justify
|Peed for Huge Army
! Answers Critics Who
Charge Waste in
. Building Big Force

3 Secretary of War Stimson de-,
nlared today that the success and
magnitude of the North African
campaign furnish a definite
4nswer to critics who contend
Rhat the United States is wasting
Mort in building a huge Army
mat may never be used in its
Entirety.
8 ut would be very foolish for us to
nlnimize the task we have before
= in the training and building of an
army to finish this war;" he warned.
4 The 72-hour conquest of the
greater part of French North Africa
got only demonstrated the high
quality" of the training given Amer
gan forces, Mr.. Stimson said, but
4lso proved that they can carry
fhrough with marked skill one of
nle most difficult problems-that of
Anding on hostile shore"
& 1900 900 Moderate Estimate.
X The target Of 100000 men" at
Which the Army is aiming by the
end Of 1913, Mr. Stimson commended,
II figure carefully calculated" and
noderate and conservative in num-
Der" Opposed to the United Nations,
Ne pointed out. Germany has 40
divisions in France and the Low
Mnds; 200 divisions in Russia, and
counting aid from her allies, has
POSSIBLY 500 divisions in all Europe.
These figures do not take into con-
Mderation, he declared, Japans es-
Mmated IS divisions.
s Considering the experiences of
Russia and what our own North
african campaign involved, he
reiterated that the only conclusion
possible is that all American Army
Of $4,000 men is a very moderate
estimate. t
s Secretary Stimson made no dis
closure today as to the fate of the
French fleet, nor did he discuss mil
itary maneuvers in any way during
his press conference.
s Largest Operation in History.
{. Declaring the convoy movement to
North Africa involved the largest
operation in history of all warfare"
he praised the cooperation between
the American and British forces re-
EponSible for its success.
i The huge conveys were protected
BY naval forces so successfully in
Submarine infested waters" that
only one troopship was torpedoed, he
said. Press dispatches reported that
the men on the ship took to boats
and travelled 100 miles or more to
land with the rest Of the forces.
5 The Axis powers were fully aware
Of the approach of the expedition. he
declared, and the Army is deeply
grateful to the United States and
British Navy for the magnificent
services rendered." he added.
i More than anything else, Mr..
Stimson said the operations in
North Africa demonstrate that the
Infantry is of supreme importance"
IN battle.
& Infantry Assault Troops.
s. The infantry not only had a lead
hg part in the occupation, he
pointed out, but other branches per-
formed as special infantry assault
troops.
z He said it should not be forgotten
hat such elements of the Army as
paratroops, Commands, Rangers
ahd the like are in effect infantry
assault troops.
I. He particularly stressed the opera
lions as demonstrating the high de-
gree of training in loading ships for
amphibious warfare.
+, When the conveys arrived on'the
scene, everything was ready for use
= trucks, tanks and artillery. The
Equipment was stored so that it
could be put Immediately on the
Beaches, he added.
& The troops were on board ship for
more than month in assembling
and going to Africa, Mr.. Stimson
said in praising their magnificent
physical qualities" Despite the fact
they landed at night and fought
continuously, few men dropped out
from exhaustion, Mr.. Stimson de-
dared.