The Wilmington morning star., 1944-11-08
Answer to Anthem

IFS, says Neal Stanford one OF our better
commentators on war changes, don't win wars
and might-have-beens are the weapons only o.
armchair strategists. But there are lessons te
be learned from looking backward as well al
pushing forward. This, by way OF preamble
to discussion of what might have happened
at Anthem if the Army had been supplied with
the new plane designated the C-82 when the
attack was first made behind enemy lines in
that sector.
Mr. Stanford says of this and other matters
Of air interest
'If-there's that word 'again-if the Allies
had had C-S2's on hand last September when
that vast air-borne army dropped out of the
clouds in Holland, Anthem might have spelled
victory. For the British air-borne troops there
lacked heavy equipment. They had the men.
They had the guns. But they didn't have the
tanks or tank-destroyers. When the British
Second Army failed to drive through to a
contact, their game was up. Had there been
CAPS to supply them with all the heavy
equipment that standard triangular infantry
division requires, the story of Anthem might
have been different. Army officers here are
confident it would have been different. The
C-82, though still in the experimental stage, is
already under production at plant in Mary
land.
But don't think only the Allies miss the
bus now and then. The Nazis have missed
more than their share of buses. The robot
bomb didn't prevent or defeat the Normandy
invasion Rather than a lethal weapon dur
ing those crucial days, it turned out to be
missing weapon. vi is still dangerous,
but it has not proved decisive. And now the
Nazis are reported perfecting their w, a
rocket bomb which could reach the United
States. But neither can win the war;
with rockets being perfected for wars de-
structve purposes, it was a hopeful note in
the same days news to read that rockets
are being designed for postwar peaceful
uses. Jet propulsion and rocket power open
new horizons for the future. They permit
new attitudes, new velocities, n W power
They are expected to revolutionize this wars
postwar era as much as the airplane did the
last wars peacetime interim. Though de-
voted to war now, they will be designed
for peace afterwards. Already the Navy is
reported spending $500, 900, 900 a month on
rockets, and the Army is pushing its own
experlmentatlons If this is the age of the
airplane, tomorrow belongs to the rocket
The Allies have one weapon which if it
lives up to all forecasts, is going to be
neither too little nor too late. Already the
BIG Superfortress h a S forewarned t h e
japanese OF tn n g S to come. They have
been promised even more devastating air
raids than those inflicted on Germany. AS
our bases advance nearer their home islands,
their industry is doomed to destruction.
For Japan's industry is concentrated. She
has no satellite nations to aid her. B-29' S
are ralding the Japanese islands with in
creasing regularity. Even their presence for
reconnaissance purposes strikes terro
among the Japanese. In description of the
ensuing panic, symptomatic of the Oriental
mind, the Tokyo Radio reports factories
losing their 'calmness If the mere threat
OF raid can destroy 'calmness.' what of
the real thing, what of a raid every week,
twice week, thrice a week. every day?
Japan's 'calmness' is in for humiliation.
And commenting on Japanese phraseology,
one recalls another utterly Oriental expression
that occurred the other day in Premier Koso' s
report to his countrynen on successes in
Leyte Bay Though the japanese Navy sui
fered the greatest defeat OF Its history, the
japanese Premier, freside chatting to his peo-
pie on the victory declared: Despite the
colossal scores achieved in Leyte Bay self
conceit will absolutely not be permitted Self
concet? 1t is self-deceit even more than self
conceit that is proving Japan's undoing.
Actually, selt.deceit is one of Japan's worst
enemies. Admiral Sir James Somerville who
for l 2-years commanded Britain's Eastern
Fleet, can explain her rashness in attacking
Americas Third and Seventh Fleets off the
Philippines in no other way. BY claiming
extravagant naval victories off Forrnosa and
the Ryukyu Islands. Tokyo, he believes &C
tually deceived its own fleet. Impressed by