The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-04

TuWNm DluIlGS NdhOkh AVA the Army--to 200 last April, to PA today, with 30 additional planes now In the shops undergoing conversion for commercial airline operations.
 By crowding schedules the air- lines have been able to carry vastly more passengers, mall and express than they did in prewar years, but as todays air trafflc demands would justify a fleet of 600 planes, the com- mercial carriers have been putting on constant oliver Twist act to get more and more planes.
 However, the Army Air Forces have been forced to turn deaf ears. Building up Brereton's Airborne Army to the thousands of planes required to transport troops and keep them supplied was the reason The Army couldn't talk about 1t at the time and as a result has taken terrific criticism for hoarding planes, delaying the malls and holding up war-priority for air cargo, Anyone who has ever gone through the an. moving experience of being kicked off plane or not getting reser. vation should now understand, and cross off his great sacrifice us . small contribution to General Brere- tons effort,
 LET FEM, TALK,
 WAS THE STRATEGY
 The way In which speculation was permitted on possible uses of the First Airborne Army to misle0d tho Germans on It's actual use offers one of the best examples on record of how to wage successful psycho- logical warfare.
 Creation of the First Airborne was announced In London early In Aug ust. Its strength was even estimated at 250,000 men--the equivalent of some IS infantry divisions though this figure included ground crews necessary for maintenance and supply,
 This announcement came at the time of General Patton's break. through in Normandy, and 0S his forces swept across France the mil- lbtsES GNlJOA to bSkuAA VI oBSNAAohV freely that BreretonS Army would be c natural to hurdle the Slegfried Line and the Rhine river, stabblng the Naz rear and opening up tho road right to Berlin,
 Nothing was done to stop this speculation. How much it threw the Nsrmans off In planning their defense strategy Is of eourBe un. known. But when Brereton's para. troopers and glider troops came down in Holland, 1t was a complete surprise operation,
 PREVIEW OF THINGS
 TO COME
 Tactical employment of airnorno troops has been developed in Amer lean Army operations In New Guinea, Africa, Sicily, Italy and Normandy. Tn the bigger and blood- fer invaSionS of the next coSnlic cut-ups, longsrange airborne opera. tons will play on increasing part.
 That furnishes the link With tho Dumbarton conferences, temporarily stalemated while London and Mos. COW review the first phases of the deliberations.
 1n General Brereton's Army there were not only American, Canadian and British troops, but also Poles, Dutch, Belgians and sprinkling de- tachments from other Allied armies.
 Now United Nations airborne army, backed by United Nations combat air forces, is just what the Russian delegation is understood to have proposed aS the best possible type Of police force to maintain tho peace of the future.
 The great paradox Is that while Breretons international airborne army is accepted In time Of war, there is opposition to setting up any such type of force to operate in time of peace. An international airborne army to check aggreSsor nations iS today functloning reality. even while scoifers are shouting that it won't work.