U.S.A. DEFENCE PLANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1939, Page 2

U.S.A. DEFENCE PLANS

NO ARMY FOR EUROPE

WASHINGTON. December 1. The annual report of the Secretary for War, Mr. Woodring, issued to-day. makes plain that United States military plans do not contemplate the despatch of an expeditionary force to Europe, as in 1917. nor even to Latin America. “We visualise only the possible necessity for armed defence of our own domains.” Mr. Woodring writes. "The. title ‘Protective Mobilisation Plan’ is fully indicative of our intent. "Not since the Avar of 1812 has a foreign invader set foot on our soil. We. are. therefore, too prone, to visualise preparation for future war in the light of our preparation for the war of 1917.”

The initial protection force would consist of 200.000 men of the Regular Army, plus a similar number of the National Guard—-Territorials— brought up to the highest degree of efficiency. This force would be for the most parr motorised and armed with the now semi-automatic rifle instead of with the old Springfields. The second line of defence would consist of an enlisted reserve of 75,000 men. formed of Regular Army men whose enlistment period had expired. The third line would be formed of so-called organised reserves, consisting of men trained in the Otlicers’ Training Corps and the Citizens' Military Camps.

Mr. Woodring summarises the changes which have taken place since. lin the conception of the role which the Army would have to play. Until 1937. he says, the military chiefs ‘‘naturally thought in terms of vast armies of millions mobilised for world war service. It was a plan that called for the maintenance of huge reserve supplies, requiring the expenditure of sums which Congress never found it feasible to appropriate.” One of his first acts as Secretary for ’War. said Mr. Woodring. was to give orders for the complete replacement of the. then current War Department .mobilisation plan. The new plan, known as the Protective Mobilisation Plan, was ready in 1937. 'There still remained, however. deficiencies in organisation, equipmenj. and personnel which should be remedied. j A strongly equipped army of -liiii.ilOn

men must he aide to keep an invading- force at bay till reserves were organised behind the lines. "We place a tremendons responsibility on these first. 100.(HIP defenders." Mr. Woodring states. "If they fail in their protective mission the fate of the reinforcing citizens' armies is sealed." I'A.KAMA CANAL. Referring *O till' d< Icnce of lite Panama Canal. Mr. Woodring says: "The Panama Canal must be made impregnable. All locks and dams in that vital walorway must be made, bomb-proof. The possibility ol sahot-j age by the crews of ships going j through I he ('anal must be eliminated.? 'Wo must greatly augment our airforces and anti-;'ir< rafi artillery in the' Canal Zone." The garrison should be reinforced, in view of the possible difficulty of sending reinforcements in war-time.

. 'Mr. Woodring's report: makes it i-h-a: iha 1 assistance in the defence of this 10-misphi re will Im a matter for the i iiit.-:! Stall's Navy, while every couii’rx will be relied upon io maintain adequate land forces and equipment for the defence of its own shores. 'The decision reached yesterday to send a naval am! air mission to Colombia dmmmsi rated United States’ readiness io assist Latin-American countries in the organisation of their defence with technical advice. Already- the United States lias sent naval ami military missions to Brazil am! Argentina, Military advisers have gone to Haiti ami Guatemala, and Naval advisers to Peru.