MILITARY STRENGTH OF POWERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21324, 19 April 1939, Page 7

MILITARY STRENGTH OF POWERS

MIGHTY FIGHTING FORCES

Germany’s Strength In the Field

Menaced by Attack on

Two Fronts

Masterly Statisticial Review

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy-lg t

LONDON, April 17.

The London newspapers lengthily review a book, “The Military Strength of the Powers,” by Max Werner (believed to be a pseudonym). Competent military authorities state that it is a remarkable book and the figures appear to be fairly accurate.

Werner’s main thesis is the invincibility and efficiency of the Russian Army, which has at least ten thousand tanks. The Soviet Air Force is the strongest and most expert in the world. It is comprised of at least sixteen thousand machines. Werner declares that in the event of war the British and French Mediterranean fleets would be able to effectively destroy her colonial empire.

The book draws attention to the enormous defensive power of the Maginot Line, but it states that the French Air Force is unduly weak, while the French tank force is scarcely adequate to meet the Germans. Werner speaks of the German Army with the greatest respect, and he suggests that Germany could ultimately mobilise three hundred divisions, though only one hundred divisions would be first line troops, while it is doubtful whether equipment would be available for all. He estimates that Germany has seven thousand tanks. Her Air Force is also most powerful, and she aims at having from eight to ten thousand aeroplanes by 1940. Despite this great German strength, however, Werner believes that a war on two fronts would again speli Germany’s doom. ITALIAN ARMY BUDGET MILLIONS FOR FRONTIER DEFENCES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 18, 6.30 p.m.) ROME, April 17. An extraordinary annual appropriation of £5,555,000 for ren years is announced to “strengthen the army’s fighting efficiency.” It is reliably stated that the new appropriation is required mainly for the Albanian, Libya and French frontiers.