Evening star., 1943-09-08

could have been put out of action in
less than an hour" he said There
was no choice but to accept this
hazard"
| Gen. Marshall's report summarized
the important events affecting the
United States Army between July
l, 1941, and June 80, 1912. TT is a
record of what has been done and
why 1t was done and is submitted
while America Is at war to permit q
better understanding of the great
offensive operations now In prog
ress," foreword said.
Previous Report.
A previous report dealt with
events from July !, 1899, to June
80, 1941, in two phases. The first
included the fall of France and
a period OF national uncertainty
as to the influence Of the war on
the United States.
The second phase, starting with
the Battle OF Britain and terminate
ing with the German declaration Of
war against Russia, was "conspicu-
Gus for a growing national APP
probation of the International situ-
alton" and was marked by limited
peacetime mobilization of man.
power and orientation of industry
to speed up war production.
The initial period covered by the
present report constitutes a third
phase brought to An abrupt con-
clusion by the Japanese attacks of
December 2, 194l. With the war
a fourth phase .ushered, In which
the United States was forced ito
assume q defensive role while
mobilizing strength for q giobal
war to the finish"
The fifth phase In which we are
now engaged, the report stated.
involves the launching OF Allied
military power in a series of Often
sive blows until the enemy is beaten
into complete submission.
The chief OF staff emphasized the
critical emergency of the third
phase as necessitating the strength
ering of outposts to defend the
Western Hemisphere by the signi-
ficant remark: IAN this took time,
and time was when we lacked"
Demands for Equipment.
During this period, also, he dis
closed, the imperative demands for
equipment for strengthening these
contipental defenses made it inn
possible to reinforce the Philip
pines, though the danger to the,
Philippines had become obvious.
Despite the pressure of demands
elsewhere, Gen.. Marshall disclosed
that 10000 tons of supplies for
the Philippines and 10000 troops.
for reirforcements had been as.
sembled. The suddenness. OF the
Pearl Harbor attack prevented
these ships and men from reaching
the beleaguered islands. Yet earlier.
35 Flying Fortresses, some 100 HIGHT
tanks and the first 50 self
propelled heavy artillery deliverd
by our 'arsenals had arrived in the
Philippines.
Gen. Marshall stressed that it.
required appro kim ely eight
months during the critical fourth
phase of the war TO accumulate
the munitions, train the initial
forces, then transfer them to
theaters of operation where they
could be employed on offensive ac-
tion against the enemy. This phase
Of the great emergency ended in
August, 1912, with the successful
assault on the Japanese positions
at Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the
Solomon Islands"
Turning to the Pacific struggle.
Gen. Marshall declared "the battles
OF the Coral Sea and Midway re-
stored the balance of sea power in
the Pacific to the United States" :"
and marked the high tide of Japa-
nese aggression"
The enemy offensive had def
nitely been checked" he said" the
United Nations firmly held chains
OF island bases extending from the
United States to Australia; our
forces had begin to deliver stagger-
ing blows, and our commanders
were now free to prepare for Of
fensive operations"
Offensive Continues.
The operation against Guadal-
canal, "the resolute defense of the
Marines d. and the desperate GAL
lantry OF our naval forces marked
the turning point in the Pacific, y
Gen. Marshall declared.
With the Army moving in to de-
stroy final enemy resistance on the
island, he reviewed the upsurge of
the Allied air offensive, making
possible the converging attack on
New Guinea, the victory In the Bis
marck Sea and the seizure OF more
secure positions from which to en-
counter japanese offensive ventures.
Rapidly increasing military re-
sources In the Pacific now afford us
considerable freedom OF action" the
report added. THE characteristics
of the theater, predominantly oce-
anic, demand precise and efficient