TANK DESTROYERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24009, 5 July 1941, Page 11

TANK DESTROYERS

NEW AMERICAN UNITS

ARMY SERVICE ABROAD NEED TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS (Rpcd. 7.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 3 The Secretary for War, Mr. H. L. Stimson, announced that the army was organising 22 tank "destroyer" battalions and had developed a radical new type of division combining mechanised and armoured equipment. This was part of the army's programme to develop 60-mile-an-hour striking units. Mr. Stimson said he believed the new anti-tank units were the first ot their kind in any army in the world. They included several types of selfpropelled artillery which could be used for tank destroying. Longer Training Urged The United States Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall, in his biennial report to the Secretary for War, Mr. H. L. Stimson, said that events in the past few days were even more forcible indications of the suddenness with which armed conflict could, spread to areas hitherto considered free from attack. Therefore, he urgently recommended that the War Department be authorised to extend the period of the selective service of men and officers of the' reservo corps and units of the National Guard. The Chief of Staff also asked for the removal of the restrictions which confined armed forces to the Tjnited States. He said: "All will admit that the time factor has been of dominant importance in the march of events since September, .1939, in the availability of and the complete readiness of huge highly-trained units for employment in chosen theatres. I submit that limitations should be removed as quickly as possible if we are to have a fair opportunity to protect ourselves against coldly calculated, secret and sudden action directed against us." Mechanics for Britain General Marshall also strongly urged immediate Congressional action on legislation already submitted designed to vitalise army leadership, the purpose of which is the removal from exacting duties of a few officers who slow down development of the emergency army through lack of qualities of vigour and intelligent aggressive leadership. "One purpose of these proposals is to enable us to meet the dangers of the present situation," he said. "Such a purpose does ndt admit of delay." The United States army is despatching mechanics to Britain to instruct the Royal Air Force in the maintenance of American aeroplanes and also to learn details of British aircraft. CANADIAN WAR MEMORIAL LONDON, July 3 A young Canadian pilot has reported that during a recent fighter sweep over northern France ho was able to see the Canadian Memorial on Vimy Ridge, which was reported damaged in the German invasion of Franco. As far as he was aMe to seo from a height ol' 10,000 ft., the memorial was undamaged.