ANTFAIRCRAFT GUNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1941, Page 5

ANTFAIRCRAFT GUNS

SHORTAGE STILL SERIOUS IN U.S.A. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK. April 18. The “New York Times" military expert, after making a survey, telegraphs from Washington that the country's shortage of modern antiaircraft guns is still, serious. Almost a year after the German blitzkrieg began, the navy has not sufficient guns of the desired types to equin all its combatant ships, much less merchantmen. The army has not enough equipment to protect half the principal cities on the eastern seaboard or the field armies.

If the navy should be ordered in the near future to take up convoy duties the shortage, particularly of guns roughly equivalent to the British) pompoms, would probably handicap the efficient protection of such convoys. This urgent need has been recognised with growing force in-the past few months, and nearly all possible sources arc now being tapped. A thousand guns are on order.

The problem of building up the United States anti-aircraft strength is complicated by the fact that similar weapons are being produced for Britain. who needs every such gun which can be spared. The Army Chief of Staff, General Marshall, announced that 500,000 civilians are being enrolled as volunteer observers in a national network to give warning against aerial invaders.