The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-09-08

sion, but this expansion had yet
to be achieved.
Lack of modern equipment, par
ticularly airplanes and anti-air-
craft guns, as well as lack of
trained units ''embarra ssed h e
War Department during this pc
Rod both in the training of troops
(including air units) and in the
preparation of overseas establish
ments to meet possible attacks in
both oceans.
Hawaii mad been given first pri-
ority since 1885, and had more
complete garrisons and munitions
than other overseas outposts. The
Panama Canal and Alaska now
took priority, and the uncertainty
about the peril of Britain and the
British fleet made it urgently
necessary" to establish defenses
throughout the Caribbean and
Newfoundland. In this connection,
Marshall remarked that immedi-
ately after Dunkirk in 1910 "the
British Isles were in effect de-
fenseless so far as organized and
equipped ground forces were con-
cerned. Practically all their field
army equipment had been lost and
an immediate invasion was threat
ened. For the United States the
military issue Immediately at
stake was the security of the Brit
ish fleet to dominate the Atlantic. .
With the limited means at hand,
the question became one of pri-
critics, and only in February 1941
were additional aircraft, anti-air-
craft guns and t h er weapons
available for Hawaii. ''a little
later the first shipments of mod
ern planes went to the Philippines
-35 Flying Fortresses, and 107
P40 fighters, the latter-as well
as some for Hawaii-obtained by
stripping squadrons in training in
the United States.
deficiencies in arms and equip
ment, especially in ammunition
and airplanes, required for the
immediate defense of the West
ern Hemisphere, the Panama Ca
nal Zone, Alaska and for the Reg
ular Army and National Guard
with supporting troops" Marshall
writes, were so serious that ade-
quate reinforcements for the Phil
ippines at this time would have
left the United States in posi-
ton of great peril should there be
a break in the defenses of France
or Great Britain.
Despite the country's critical sit
uation, Marshall reports, l e d.
lease aid to Britain and Russia
continued throughout the crisis of
Americas entrance into the war,
without notable Interruptions ex-
cept in few items.
Deployment of American forces
was governed by the possibility of
a tragedy in the United Kingdom
with consequent complete reversal
of the naval situation in the At
lantic, Marshall says, and for an
even longer time by the constant
threat of German occupation Of
Morocco and Dakar and fifth col
umn activities in Latin America.
When the Japanese attacks on
the fleet at Pearl Harbor 'uncov-
cred the entire West Coast Of
North America" reinforcement OF
garrisons in Panama, H w ii,
Alaska and the West Coast was
given first priority. Midway was
strengthened, and the succession
of island bases established to
guard the Pacific lines of COM
munication with Australia and New
Zealand. Troops were sent to Ice
land and Northern Ireland, out
posts of the Canal one extended
bv establishment Of air bases in
Central and South America MAR
shall notes particularly the full
cooperation of BraziD and by as
signment Of small coast artillery
deta elements with 155 nm guns
to defend critical points of the
South American coast as far as
possible. The Eastern and West
ern Defense Commands were or