Detroit evening times., 1946-01-07
BEHIND
THE NEWS
BY Paul.
MaIIon

~ WASill4NNl O-'' Jan
w Imagination of Jules Verne
could hardly encompass the
practical, official concepts of
the next war. which lie behind
the current debate on unifica-
tion of the army and navy, the
atomic bomb issue and youth
draft.
1t is not a fully accepted
theory of what the next war
will be like, but rather the prac-
teal vision of the unhidebound
and thinking men of the mill
tary trade.
1t seems 10 me 10 be so sound
that | unhesltatingly present 1t
as authentic, even though it has
not been offered publicly beyond
the limited reports of Air Corps
Gen. Arnold. Furthermore. it
furnishes the key to the con-
greSSional issues under debate,
10 wit:
1.-THE next war will be fought
l. on our own soil. This is a
logical expectation because this
nation has no mental capacity
for aggression, but only for de-
fense. and science has destroyed
tho value of our geographical
ramparts (the two broad oceans
and two vast. weak and sympa-
thetlc adjoining natlons).
O-The invasion will come from
= Europe or Asia or both
simultaneously. This is certain
because the only nations which
could conceivably oppose us pO-
hticallX and who have the mili-
tary resources TO challenge US
are in those two continents.
O-Practical military theory
- would require an invader 10
lay down a bombardment of di-
reCted missiles across the great
circle route of Arctic waste
upon our larger cities. The lQgi-
cal point Of attack would not
be New York or San Francisco,
but Chicago, through which all
the great arteries of east-west
travel run, and the Detroit area,
origin of motor production.
TheS conceiVably could be
severed and destroyed by mis-
SileS much larger than the w,
probably including the atomic
bomb. The prospect of attack
no doubt would contemplate
leveling the big auto plants and
Chicago and lis vast rail yards
as flat and thoroughly as Naga-
Saki was destroyed. 1t could be
followed by direct bombing at
tackS from airplanes.
i-The invading army would
r come entirely by air. An
initial force of 10000 TO 10000
planes carrying 40 or more men
each could seize the destroyed
area. Their weapons and tanks
would come by air. as would
their supplies. Daily reinforce
mentS could build up their
forces. conceivably within a
weeks time TO the power OF a
substantial army.
Greatest enemy hazard OF the
attack, no doubt, would be TO
secure air cover for the landed
army. but this could be provided
if fields along the route across
the Arctic were seized stimuli
taneously by the invaders and
stocked with fighter planes and
supplies.
OUR problem would be 10
" muster greater military air
and land power at the points OF
invasion and build il up faster
than the invaders could build
up their forces, pushing planes,
tanks and men in to annlhllate
the invading forces.
This. al any rate, is the bare
nucleus of the next wars pros
poets as of today. 1t seems 10
say primarily that unification Of
the armed forces is essential.
Complete coordination and i'm
mediate use of every weapon
would be necessary. The navy
would protect commercial sea
and air lanes and bases in the
oceans. but the primary re-
sponsibility would rest upon the
air. land and supply forces oil
both branches Of the service.
II would seem 10 require also
the maintenance Of scientific
and substantial air and lanf
force equipped and ready To
move AT a moment. since speed
is the critical point. The youth
draft would he Of little conse-
ducnce in such war. The war
could well he over before such
reserves could he mustered.
Nov science. terrified Al its
y own discovery of atomic
destruction. wants 10 prepare
our defense on that score hv
outlawing the use of their
weapon
This no doubt will he done
but unless all the natural laws
of war and human beings are
simultaneously repealed and
men become angels all of a sud
den. every effective weapon Will
be used in the next war as in all
past wars
CCIENTISTS say poison gas
- was outlawed and not used