Evening star., 1943-09-08

uuIg kbotuetHtcttS, Sttcy VI OtuU
Gen. George C. MarshalPs report
to the Secretary OF War on the
period July I, f941-June 80, 1943,
Just made public. 1T is a record"
Gen. Marshall ,1rites. "of tUhat
Dos done and Dhy it tDds done
and Is submitted ,Dhile America
Is at Dar. to permit a better ni-
derstanding OF the great offensive
operations ro,o in progress"
On July /, 1e41, the international
situation was extremely critical. The
full power of the German Army
overwhelmingly successful in all It's
previous conquests, had just been
loosed against Russia, and the mo-
mentum of its first drive had over
run vast areas of Russian territory
Sizable concentrations of German
troops remained deployed along the
English Channel, constant menace
to the security of Great Britain, and
German activities in both the North
and South Atlantic threatened the
security of the Western Hemisphere
TN August, 1910, following the
fall of France and the critical
situation resulting with regard
to the security of the British
Isles. the United States and
Canada had formed Permanent
Joint Board on Defense. This
board consists of six members
from each country. Mayor F. H.
La Guardia of New York City is
presently the chairman of the
American section of the board.
Vice Admiral A. w. johnson is
the senior United States Navy
member and Maj. Gen. Guy V.
Henry the senior Army member9
Strong Italian forces meanwhile
were massing in Africa. In the
Pacific the menacing preparations OF
Japan we're regarded as a possible
preface to attacks upon British and
Dutch possessions in the Far East
and upon the Philippines, Malaysia,
Hawaii and the Panama Canal.
Aggression in Indo-China gave un-
mistakable evidence of Japan's plan
to enlarge her empire at the ex-
pense of weaker countries.
Extension of Service.
In this grave situation in the
summer of 1941 the War Depart
ment was faced with the disintegra-
ton OF the Army, which had reached
a strength Of more than $500 900
men. unless legislative action inter-
vened to save the situation. Under
the terms of the Selective Training
and Service Act, selectees could only
be retained in the service for a
period of one year unless a national
emergency existed. Also, National
Guard units and Reserve officers
must be returned to an inactive
status after one year Of service. The
critical international situation de-
manded the retention of these men
and organizations If the security OF
the Western Hemisphere was to be
assured, and such a recommends :
ton was made to the Congress by
the President early in July. The
Selective Service Extension Act of
1s4i was approved the latter part
of August, four months before the
attack on Pearl Harbor.
Development Of the Army.
At this time the Army of the
United States consisted of a par
TALLY equipped force of 28 infantry
divisions, newly created armored
force Of 4 divisions, 2 cavalry divi-
sions, the harbor defenses of the
United States and an air force Of
209 incomplete squadrons. There
was in existence a number of es-
adjustments such as induction sta
tions, replacement training centers
and officer candidate and specialists
schools, which provided the neces-
sary basis and experience for a
rapid expansion of the Army in the
event of war.
During the summer of 1941, large
battle rehearsals continued which
included maneuvers in August, Sep
tember and November of some 900,-
900 troops. The organization and
training of the necessary nom
divisional units Oheavy artillery,
engineers, etc. to support our divi-
sions were expedited, while special
attention was directed to the de-
velopment and training OF the
armored force and antiaircraft or
ganizations which were faced with
the prospect of enormous expan-
siors
Selected units were given special
lied training in mountain and
jungle warfare and amphibious op-
erations, and Tank Destroyer Gen.
ter was created. Supply and ad-
ministrative units and installations
were activated and trained to meet
the greatly increased logistical de-
mands of combat forces, but we
were never able to provide them
in sufficient numbers to meet serv-
ice requirements for the active en-
ployment of the tactical units.
During this period, port installa-
tions were expanded to support pos
Gible overseas operations.
Overseas Garrison Reinforcement.
Lack of modern materiel, espe-
eially in airplanes and antiaircraft
guns, as well as lack Of trained
units, embarrassed the War Depart
ment during this period both in the
training of troops Gncluding air
units) and in the preparation of our
overseas establishments to meet
possible attacks in both oceans.
Since 1885 the Hawaiian Islands,
having been given first priority, had
been provided with more complete
troop garrisons and munitions than
any other overseas garrison. 1t now
became imperative that the defenses
of the Panama Canal and Alaska be
given immediate priority. Also. the
uncertainty of the European situa-
tion involving the peril of the Brit
ish Isles and the British Fleet made
IL urgently necessary for us to Sc
cure the defenses of the Western
Hemisphere by establishing air bases
and defensive garrisons throughout
the Caribbean and in Newfoundland
Immediately after Dunkirk in
1910, the British Isles were in ef-
feet defenseless so far as organ
tied and equipped ground forces
were concerned. Practically all