UNITED STATES ARMY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 59, 12 March 1943, Page 3

UNITED STATES ARMY

CAREFUL PLANS FOR SIZE Washington, March 9. Cnogressional interference with the Army's carefully drawn plans for an army of 8,200.000 in 1943 would deal a heavier blow to hopes of final victory than any losses likely to be suffered in battle, said M. Henery Stimson, in a broadcast replying to demands that the size of the Army be reduced. Kg said the size was fixed after months of study by the Army and Navy staffs. Thus they had the benefit of all the brains and accumulated research. The plans had been worked out with full recognition of the shipbuilding programme and equipment and production. Our combat plans, inteyated with careful estimates of supply possibilities, governed the decisions of the size of our armed forces. United States plans provide for 100 divisions of ground forces, while Germany has 300 divisions, Italy 80 and Japan 86. ‘The men who are going Into actual combat have placed their house in order. Their spirit and their programme are all that patriotism pluc careful planning can effect. I now ask whether agriculture and industry should not likewise be placed on a more efficient wartime basis.”