Evening star., 1943-01-26

Raid Value
Doubted
Macarthur Advice
On Air Strategy
Should Be Needed
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

Out of Gen. Douglas E. Mac.
Arthur's significant statement con-
corning the marvellous use to which
air power has been put in connec-
lion with the operations of ground
troops may be read some of the les
sons that must be learned in the
European theater of war by the
United Nations Board of Strategy.
What has been accomplished on
small scale in New Guinea is
not novel because the Germans have
employed those very tactics success
fully in their blitzkrieg which over
ran France and Belgium as we'll as
Poland and vast areas of Russia.
But the Axis lacks the planes to
conduct operations on the large
scale that is possible for the United
Nations If their airplanes are con-
centrated along with the efforts of
combat forces. If the United Ma
tons have enough planes for ex-
tensive raids on German factories,
there is nobody who would argue
against such use. But if the choice
must be made between combat use
or raids behind the lines where it
Is a hit-or-miss proposition and
where many of the production IA
cllities are hard to locate because
OF camoufiage, there can be little
doubt what the choice should be.
Opportune Testimony.
Gen. MacArthur's testimony
about the wonderful achievements
Of air power not merely in protect
ing the advance of detachments of
troops, but in keeping them sup
Piled and actually in transporting
endorsements over mountains and
ttngles is particularly opportune.
For the United States has a large
Army in North Africa and, along
with the French and British troops,
The entire force is commanded by an
American. 1t is Americas first
chance in this war to demonstrate
her military effectiveness in modern
war. The tank has been developed
to high point of usefulness and
the guns and artillery are known
to be virtually unexcelled, but the
combination of air power and land
power can only be triumphant if
there Is plenty of both.
VIII the enormous production of
American airplane factories continue
10 be dispersed widely and the North
African front given lesser share
than would be possible If there is
concentration? This Is one of the
questions that will have to be an
swered in the next few weeks as
American ground troops fight their
way through Tunisia. The area oc-
cupied by the italian and German
troops in Tunisia is relatively small
and there are not many usable air
fields In the hands of the United
Nations as yet. But the Gen. Mac
Arthur statement points the way to
success II the Allied commanders
will but concentrate air power in
North Africa and give up for time
the idea of increasing the number
Of bombers for air raids over Ger
many.
The use Of air power on particu-
lar targets is in line with American
theory, but 1t is doubted whether
the use of air power indiscriminately
Tor raiding purposes serves the real
objective of modern warfare-to ac-
quire and occupy territory.
Possible Major Front.
North Africa can become the
major front of this war when air.
fields are built up along the coast
for the use of American bombers.
It would be possible for United Ma
tions forces to land in Italy and put
that country out of the war. It
would be possible to rearm the
Balkan peoples by means of opera
tons in the Mediterranean, where
surface vessels are protected with air
power flown from North African
bases.
1t s possible, perhaps, to put
forces into the field in the rear of
the Nazi troops now in Russia
through movements into the south
ern countries of Europe and when
enough of Germany's air and land
forces have been drained out of
Northern Europe the time may come
for the invasion of both Norway and
Northern France.
These are objectives over a long
range-perhaps another 18 months
but the whole strategy of the war
will be slowed up unless the advice
given pointedly by Gen. Macarthur,
while reviewing his own situation
recently. is taken to heart. Air
power plus sea power or air power
plus land power or combination of
all three working simultaneously can
win this war, but separate isolated
operations will not do the trick.
1t is to be hoped that the confer
ences now in progress looking to-
ward an overall strategy for the
remainder of the war will reveal
that this has been taken into
account.
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