WAR CRISIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 April 1941, Page 5

WAR CRISIS

FACING UNITED STATES GREATER THAN IN 1914-18. MR STIMSON ON DEFENCE NEEDS. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON. April 15. The Secretary for War, Mr H. L. Stimson, testifying before the Defence Investigating Committee today, said the United States was facing a dangerous emergency, infinitely greater than in the World War days. Therefore the Army and Navy must be prepared to fight in any part of North, South and Central America, or even possibly in other regions where necessary.

However, Mr Stimson continued, there were many encouraging factors, because of intelligent advance planning by the War Department, in collaboration with industry, which raised the production point at least a year ahead of the war level of 1917-18. Aeroplanes cost five times more than in 1917. The newest types cost nearly a •million dollars, .even after the full production cost has been reduced by 300,000 dollars. Mr Stimson reminded the committee that Germany began her war preparations seven years ago, which involved a new diplomatic technique, a new form of propaganda and finally new tactical methods. Despite grave warnings, the democracies preferred not to compete with that preparation and the result was that Germany in 1938 was ready to move toward her objectives, first without force, then, at the first show of opposition to h'er plans, with terrific violence. Germany had disclosed to the world a quantity and variety of modern weapons also a method of employing them which thus far had achieved far-reaching results. The present dangerous emergency and efforts to meet it might be very prolonged. Accordingly it was inevitable that civilian needs should be further Subordinated to the military programme.