America, Air Power, And the Pacific, 1928

8/3/2019 America, Air Power, And the Pacific, 1928

1/20

.l,tIl

ICA. AIR P ,. ANDBY

General 1111 m l tchellror er Com nder,Alr Foroee,A.E.r.,nd reator, I11tary Aeron_utlce,U. 5 . ArmJ'!'he rumbling. ot Impendl war In ela between the us.

oarlte and Chlneee, the a t entlTe a tt tude ot the Ja neee, r dyto selze an, pretext tor the occupatl n ot the ABlattc ln la nd,the Int ree e ot the Unlted ~ t a t e e 1n Aele and re ard tor ourposee l ne ot Alaska, al1 nd the Phillpp1ne lelande, a l l keI t neceBeary tor ue to "have an eye" to the Paclt1c and Aela. Th1Bapplles not ~ n l y 1 n & mll1tary way but carom rclal1y ae e l l .

The t l re t three ar t tc l th t I wrote tor eronautlcsdealt wlth the 8enera l oondltlon at aTlatlon 1n the Unl ed titatee,how 1t baa been and le bel mlemana ed by the pre.ent admlnlBtraUon, and lomethlng about the uee ot a lr power In the Atlantlc 01and 1n the T1alnlty ot our panama C nal. In thle ar t lc le , I ahatr ." ' t ot our all ' po 1n the paclt1c and what I t meanll to ue ae anaUon.

Strateg1cally, the ,merlcan posltlon wlth rellpect to the\Ith armlea, the alde th

Paoltlo ocean 18 a .,e17 .troD8 one. 1(ost or Ull ha.,e14e Of what .trate@l)1 ..an8oat t ..n t h . ~ f1rate. t" exoelled In etrategy. t th

Tary hazy"got the

vy, wh. . , . r 0\ the "mollte. .hipe there f lrateat" excelled. I th a ir po

ODe who 8- t . ~ h ".osteat alrplane. there f irateat" 11l the atre whe\her 1t be In a oommerclal or a mll1tany op I ' tion. Ithou

l \ lon 1n the Paoltic wa .,ery etro beto e the adTent a t a


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lna d It ta advaD a o t . h the a lr ottera ua.e re the only great .bl te po.er, the hoae ahorea ot .bo

terr l or, are waahed by tbe pacltlc OC D. Oppoalte u. la the con-lnent ot ala, COD l n l ~ ~ a e 950,000,000 neop1e, or one baIt tbe

popu1atlon ot the .or ld. I t la .1th the people ot ala tb tropeye al.aya a bt to trade nd ln ny caaea tbla b a reaulted ln

not on1 .1 h ela, but alao bet.een the r ean n a t l o ~ the.ae1ve!be 0 14 .aa tou ht 1& ely over .ho ebou c ~ n t r o 1 tbe t r derou .. t the r 8t and f.be paclt1e.

Today .1th our Dleael otored eea yeellele .e need no baaeor refuell lItatl na ln he rat . a8 8al11 vesaele and coalburnla t anrefueU

atea era ulled to . ao or yesllel can t te on l ta fuel a l lnel.co, go to Shangb 1 or Canton,C 1 , and return .1tbou

t rat t l0 b1 a lr baa changed tbe linee ot co nleation tl'oone oount.r, to anot.ber. The routea of co eree and .h t a r e tno .nUn.a ot oper&t.1on ln war (the linea alo whleb .a r 18 made) a1.a,tollow e.ob otber. etore the com! ot a lr po.er. when velleele nrehl were t.he on11 .. ne ot t. Y e ! ' l l l ~ the eeae. the 11ne aer

t.be olt lo e tl'o San neleco to the H l lan lelande. the ce.OP08a t.o ".pan or Cblna; but wl h a lr power, the shOrteat. route lab l _, ot A1.....

la r 11, the te , pOlnt. to the .bole pacl t lc Oceaa1 , ouob.. al. t.he dletanoe .oroe. Berl 5tra1\ b e l ~ onI U . I ~ - . wlUl '.0 I . U n ~ . he Dloaedee. 1n he 1441e, .hlcb are

811 par ' . One b e l o ~ . to RUllSla .nd the otber t.o the,,"",.. ."u leland. at. t.be end ot tbe 1eutiana, 1. no


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turtb r aw y. tram Yolrob , J n, than 18 nlla In tile Ph1l1pplnlrplan a can ny ther and bac wlthout taklng on addltl nal tuel

The poln I wlah to emphaslze la that we are 80 el uatedth t tro nlted St tea terrltory on the con tlnen t of North A erlcnot only erehant ehlpe but alrc t t are able to 0 to s l andreturn wl h a elngle cha e of tuel.

0", the croselng or the pacltlc 18 notht I t le no 1Il0tban a fer y between two polnta aeroee t e ter . Alrplanee can ffro sew Yor 0 Pelrl b y . Y of Alae In eo e e i ~ t y boura and tthe center ot Chlna or even Indla In ten or t"enty bours are. I tIe not al le . tbat count In t ranepDrta lon , I t la th tlme requiredto n880tla the di.tanoe. The vaet lea ue8 ot the Paclflc are .brlQ! contlnually under the ma le ot s01ent1flc alrcraf t developmentThe day 18 no far off wben nelther months, wee e nor day. wl11 beu.ed 1n COapll 1QlT tbe t r lp, but bou alone.

om an aeronautic I standpoint, I t i8 very I nte re stingloot a t the Paclflc OCean In a strate leal way. e may cODSlder tnor\b paclf 0 as a buge lsoeoele. trlangle, wlth 1ts v e r t e ~ on BerS , U , one enc! of tbe base on the pana . C nal and the other enc!,be Phl1lpolnea or the coa.t of Asla c!lrectly opp081te.

!be 8lc!.. ot th l . g reat tr lang le are appr01tl t e l , 1500~ In leQ!tb, while the base m"sures about 11 ,000 ml1es, or , I t the cU.t noe around the ear h a t that laU ude. 10

ta r . lde ot tb l . t r l a ~ l e , we fin' the Unlted States el ther In"MMlo ot. or coapletel, doal t lba r \ ot canada front!

the Whole e ~ t e n t of terr i ton the paolflc ean betwee. .1ft .,aDa aDc! ,be PorUand canal, the 80u b rn border ot Ala.


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III t lcot

III OJ alterca 10n arllUl18 be ween the Unlted St ee and anpower, C&na4& w ul elther openly IUde with ue 0 run the r18ocoup&\lon.

Freedo. ot neu.er ot a .111tary f r ee 111 de endent on tle th ot the lie. Ta 1118 all t.he detinltion of t1balle" tne l1ne wnloon eotll he I11t.ary depotll or aagaslnell ot a country. the unltedSt. tell hall a lie ot 1500 l1ell fro 1811 to pana 01 P r t ofth l . baee y e re ched elther on or over the land and a l l e1e enttor the le ng, ooncentratlon and intenance or 111 ry power 111o be II wi h i t.1I borderll.

The lIelltern ordltferent. fro our 1I1de.a II ra1 ht l ine dralln tro

1I1at c Blde or th1e t r ia le le veryThe 00&llt11ne 111 reat1y Indented 110 that.any one place alo Itll coast to another

ullua11y Dallllee a cOnllderable diB ance lie 11 rd. tringe ot illlandooye" the cOIUSt of Allia a l the way fro t e Peni ul ot lta.eh tkto the uator, .ary 118 1n dll1t nce to the _Unland t ro . a .ery tewIIllee, aa a t 8 khalin III1a d, to one hundred in the caee ot .lapan,and about t l .e bundred In the calle of the Ph1lippines and Borneo.

!beae 1alan48 are r1ch by nature. oa ble ot great deyelpat and bear very Slob the aa. . . atra te lc 1 elat ion to the contin

ot Aela that the Brit1eh Ialee do to tbe contlnent ot rope. In otwo , l t b 1II1aneters In U . . . . paet lIere able to do te In lI.apower, be, rend.red th....l . e . not only 1 IlUne from attack troll th

ln land but tbe , ba the pOller ot ln l t iaU a alnet the oontlnene leal aev lop nt ot n In thtll r at not been

ot Great Brl In. a.nce. lie t lnd tbe pollOI of Japan tooOl.ete 40 nanoe ot a l l thelle Aelatic lIn II t no only ..


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ln ter sta OD he oontlnent.nother at tegle 1 slmil r l y between J8p nand Gr t

Brltaln 18 h t tho 1 t te tlnds he uropean oontlnenta1 a lr poweto be e reateat enace t her existenee. Practlc l1y everywherOD the continen t ot Asia we t nd opul t lon ore or 1e88 hostileto the Japanese. J pan theretore wl11 deTelop her i r power tothe IItmOllt. Ineo r as the pl1cat on of her a ir p o ~ e r ls con-cerned. Ja n haa t e I1ne For 0118- ameha e1c1us ve av 11 ble.or a diet noe t about ml1es.

5UI'Yey , the two side8 of th t r ia le t we t ind our II ideto be a ho oseneous s r te leal enti y co Ie in Itllelf nd_naoe4 on11 fro. acrolls the paciflc. h ila on ne eet or AUaticalde we rlnd an Insu1ar elllpir occupyi b e a 11tt le ore than

ced atrate icaa1f the 1 e ~ t h of one a de of the t r ia Ie ndbo\b f ro. the PAcific nd the con Inent ot 8ia.

A the baae of the t r ia leo or t e 11ne P n - nl1& e t lnd t il 't lt an expanee of 5000 milell of ocean to the Xing n Reeowne4 b1 the Unlte4 5tates . bu fro tbere on a practlc 111 contin. e r i.. o f la1anda within short distances ot each othe clear to tcoaa or ala. Theae l s l nde are either in the po eeeion of orpDtlre11 4a.dnated by Great Brltaln. he only 1 nd encountered be'.e D . . . . . and the Klng,.,.n e la Ollpperton Island, ab ut 1900\ of pana.. a n olal d botb by ce n the epubllc o..at .o . !be United State tl abollle! oqulre th18 t once. ngland.~ , ~ . - be. foo\bold Oft these ls la 8. 0 - Inod with her a i r and a.....1.. 14 be able to oontrol about b 1 t be base of the trla!l8

o be. baae 51 apore_ ew Zeal nd. coyera a l l tbe


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a b a t, aUrTel ot 1" IItrateglcal poel Iont 0 nel l' w 111 necealla to ell bl1811 a 11111 1"'1 depot.

ao \1 . erroneously c l led baae. It o a be aald a t tbe outsettbat. 1 ta r t.he e IIlea, depo to organize 111 an eron utlcal on wblob at. t.he a tl_ h a co nd ot p weI" ~ c uperior to thatof Il al'W,J 01' A TJ

An AI" 1 occupy po I t 1 ~ n ad i t given a few d y8 topre re 1 to defenlle. 1 dne10p I t 0 a1 Ollt II great a extent.all It ' he , bad bee t . ~ e r e for prot. cted llpace ot 1 e. I t 1tllo ale t.lone re II uare11 be lnd I t . n I f hOlltl1e ground forcellbay. t.o 0 e acrollll t.he wat.er. I t hall 11 t le to fear fro either lanOJ' II... 1t. on n ee be from all" power. On the other h nd. Itan Arll1 e chell a nee In a b rbor. the ar '1 y d811troy 1 t. therev1 Cervera a t n lago. karoft a t port

Arthur. 01' poleon'lI c pture of the Eanll1b f leet 1tb hili cavalry.when 1 waa frozen t.l ht In the 10e.y lUb depot. aa. t t1re t seek out a l1arbwi b a dept.h ot water ot for 1 teet a t low t ide, otherwise a . o u n d ~bat 1hl wl1 be u ble 0 en er I t . I f I t III not aece 81ble talt. l.... wb n 1 III neeaed t.he O8t will be Just the t l tb t it c nbe. . red. 1 b the co 1 Xl '1 ot modern v 1 1"-' ents h 8 co e aoO1'l!'ellIDOlltU atur..ntatlon of IIhore elltabllllhments. e docklardS~ ' l ' e , ... o bu d. the technic 1 re 11" and supply t cl11tle reqI

o , ..a au10fU

of one, but In fin it e a tt en tion to det 11 and1. 1 . rapl 11 beeo Iftll' 110 In tr lc te a proc e

1 1 " . and 1e. . obl1e. are chal ed to tb. . , , . . . tb we . , o b a ~ e of the theat.re of operatl na require


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CU8t of oyer 2000 lee tro i ta so nece l t te 18&rl!l otp I o aod no 1911 l l l l o ~ bu b ona ot dollar8 expen' Ire. As 1 p tiona lncreaae ln s1ze

nd extent. Just so40 t 1 beco be tel' t ete tor 11' a tt ck. and ae the u t1 l1 ty

19 eurracetbe great eurrace bat lesbip 18tbe effo1'\ e ended ln 1ene1'81.

idly dr wival ar

t a olose. 0 tente 1 a a te o

n 11' toroe. on the otber band. 0 n el!lt l ieh l t se l f w\b ~ r _ t e l ! l eaae unoooupl d f leld. a etretch of oce n beach..en the 0 n er ot a volo no ' " be occu ied nd 0 e ted trolll w ln l _ of pre ratlon. co red to he installation of & nayaae ot or tbe e ~ l a e e nt ot rtl11ery ot poei Ion. Tbe First Bobard nt Group landed on and opera. ed fro t t e r l!I leland longAtlan le C et w th 1i 12000Mlb. bo 8. t 0 Dl' I l .

e ratton. 11 their euppllol!l. lnclueollne and fuel. were I nded ln three

de the . l 'one bal t teet ot water. I b ve 1 nded purBult pI nes ln an open r8te d on aurt bOA" t r c . atealllere. aet tbe . up andfor n .ht ln a oouple of booJ'll.

lro ft", be OArrled .8 dec 1 de on 8ub 1'1088; a81x or ore. They c n be 1& ded ln th

own wate r,ot ca.e. nd s t up ln a a r t 1 e. hs c .ea c n bea .. boat. nd 11 bters tor the dob l ' t lon of o tber suppl le

1ft o,era III! . e reea - well 0 an ed all ' force c n be ready to_1"1 wi bln l!IlS boure ot 1ta arr1val _ 1 e de l ' BUon pOint.

ft1 operaU n ln tho all ' 1'19 ul e h t the dTant gea"" ftto 1 . . t be toulOht tor. JQst ae co reepondl

1 land 11"811 -!'He! contact. bee uae If it . 18 "01'\b


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Wbl1. be ene., wll1 a te t to etop 1t. To lneure he operatlonof alre f t . pursu1 t av! tlon -aet be conee t r ted t the de 1 lTepolnta a t tbe beBlenl o t operat1 ne. To be Cfective, &T1 t10n hto ao 1 concentrate" compact bodies, otherwise I t can be deteateIn de 11 no . a t te r wbat the elze ot t e op 081 fore may be. othle and 0 her reaeooe. an all ' torce cannot OPO! te wlth succe str

alost an a ir torce t l r 1 establ18Oil land al rdro. . . . 'l'h6re I s no bi wh te er 0 e r tro so.c l le

Tal alrplane oarrlers , because not onl, re h y u Ie to opel'e1' pOllsl 1e, theyr t lcle 1 , on the hl h eea. but eyen I t tb t

not place .utf ic lent alrcraft 1n the a lr a t 0 t l to Ineure ooentrate4 ope t lon. Consequently. h08tl1e 11' ore wl11 selzeland a l rdro_ . fro. wblob to launch 1t8 t tac aga1nst 1ts ntendyloU

t. re nt, &1e to the effor ts of our ...,...... .." pre.cU 111wbole defena. In t.h. Pacltl0 18 ba ed on he HaTl 11an Islands. vebod)' tnow. I t and there 1 . no secret a ou I t . ore1 nationll tnIt. better than .. do. 'lbe .er10&n people ought to be Intor d ha ter r lb l , d& eroue poslt1on w. have been put 1n 1 b 81 ourdefense ot tbe pac1flc on the v, Inste d ot on a l r pOller.

OU waUan Is l nda have been te e "'rho 1'011111'0 dB oth . P&oltlO". bee use t.he route t w ter born t t f lc 01 trofa canal \0 elaour , . . l f l 0 Coaa\ to A

.a.. direotl1 by the a do the r ~ u t e . froraIla, to th soutb rn p ~ r t ot 81 the

Dm ~ a t Indl.. and t.bs Phl11ppines.Betare the c o of 811' power, th ae 1 1 nde bad 6 r . \

.. 8810 1 vala. .. ba.. tor a camp 16n tro h ort .erle8D


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oon ioen a a net ASl , bee use they c ~ n e t l t u t e d the 1 at stopp1

etc Co s t . lnoeo 1. tr0

power 0 the polct e P

e evelopmen ofTle8 p oeee 1o

" e i rpl nell n Sink battle8hl e 1 h he restest e s e , a.., 1 e!\ 1 '1 in e oll! senae lost e 18 n 1 ~ B 8 1 b 1 1 1 t Y f

oOMequent1;r this value no longer e " , ... e p 81 1 ot las18 ott o e TO 1e tor a 0 p 1 n s As '1 r od sU

r i h n 1 t h ot e H .8 1 n Is an , c 8 e dle oIIhorter.

Tb Talue of a"au &S an 1 b Be tor he p nese,hoU Ter, r t , eo use d rect t tac a c ul e 0 r r e out froalnat. our pacit ic C e t c1 lell nd he lnte lor r eountre pOllle8alon or tbe " 11 n IelandS de n B p 1 rl1y on who

controls t e l r bOTe t em. h '/ c o be a en a ae orb;r a ir d f 6 I 11111 well re y us to hol he 0 coount ohe e UTel1 8 11 0 nay 1n en n 0 y o Id be

required to equip an i r to ee au! lelel" or the r t o n .H i Hee aho mUes t r s t .u 0 00

a tI ...en inhablted 1151 nde 10 a cun- 1 ne tro nort

to the tloutbern inhablted lelan , Haw 11, 1 ab ut.o llouth l i t . e dietano f ro the no ern Bb t le l n , l

o lee , ort b " hours f l ight tor an or I r1 a,lrpl nee fae o!' na 1yt b ~ t of exoe t b1 a l. n Is th t a l lne ot s 11 1 landS and

n fort et 1100

fro the 1I&1n lelan&l direct ylea , to Mldwa7 leland. Pr etlc 11 ot

d etael!le 11 1e

I.t,aac. aDd " e f a are capable af bel e ln 0 1 eee obBI po nU anI! recUo IItations.

1111 1 111 about 2000 l1e8 fro apan or bout. tbe 8a


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let.noe S nolulU Is fro San ancisco. I t i8 1'00 ile8t ro . the Aleuol n IslAnds of las 0 dl ry al0 speed.aioraft., the .T&pllnelle could reach Id1l y In twent hJl\rs, merc 1 reach onolulu n twent, hours; or fl1 h c o ~ l d be detro t.he leutlan8 to Idwa, In hir t 'n h ~ u r s . 1 r tory blrdllf l l fro t.he Rawaiian IlIlanda and ne t in lAska. hal l H w 1finch. which 18 unable to 1 nd on the w ter , kea t e fl1 ht eaclIeallon oyer theee vallt expanees of sea. 50 does the H l1an p l o The f l l i maohino can do thll1 eh ore 0 8111 th n c n he birdon account of 1 t8 power n v ab1l1 ty In stor e.

Our p lien elstem of defend1 the H w 1 Ialan B 1perfect 1 rldloulous. The la8 t l e I looked I t over, I tho ght

. e l f th 1 was 0 more efficient In thiS ~ ge a losta ern a ir t c than ere the H 11 n Is1 e B, u 1 updown the beach 1 heir speare n yell1 t tne top of heirYO c... when In Coot c me thor In 1774. r erense 18 bon a land ar-r . ooast defonse gun8 and b t leshlps, 11 of whichunooordinated. aodern bOl fifteen ,e rs old who knowS abo t a ipower and baa bad 81 ple 111tary t r 01 1n . 1 h 8e ~ o c o ~ l dwort ou a be\ter elate

8 the detense ot the H wall n 161 nd$ 18 b sed on theau tlon bat n a ttack .ou ld be de a alne them by the apa1.' .a ..aa a atate of WSr to be 1m e 1 be ae the Unl ed

Ia n. n4 the .le810n or the n ted State8 fore e 1n wallOld or 'be le1 nd of oahu for fa r oatne bero e the

aI"IPl :l of a 1 troope.I.e ilia ..\1." what. the actlon or a n would be. Jap


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an a r . , an nayy and not on an a ir orce.The r S l a n ~ or oahu. wlth 1 ml1it ry depots, atrdro e

water supply. nd the c1t1 or Honolulu with 1 s wh e . and Ilupppolnts, forms an easy. co pact and convenlen object f r a lr attaThe whole area of the lsland 1. about 650 squ8re mileB. or whichbalf ls yer.J moun lnous, wh11e the rest 1B a en up 1n grea paby r leultural deYelop ent the area bav1 n important mill tb e a r l ~ consists ot about 100 square milee or about the Bame m l l rea to r a1r defence as t e c 1 ~ y of e

In seloe 1. t e we ponB to be UB ag 1.n8 t 10eat1 nhie n. an a ir force has tbe cholce of tOT-lc gee. e ~ p 1 0 8 1 Y e

bo ot y a r l ~ u 8 s izes . a d pbeaphorou8 n lncend1 ry be 8 ofal t t . rent catesorl Tbe meane of pplyl theSe weapon. consls aer ia l torpedO, wblcb In subet nee 1. . n 1 pIa e controlled_ft. , groeoope8 and d10. whleh c n e 0 l1e n;r"bere

oa bll i t1es of the lrplane; tbe l1dlng bo_ I ~ _ .... a cJnloe enabl1 an airplane to 1ft nch 1 t a d1St.an

over 1 .d l as t , th


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reduo 10n and seizure ot the R wall n 181 nds, the tollo 1

rop be b. wh ob requ rea that the 1 0 t t employlhe target .

I bolleye. t e efo e,pro

I t P !!IS ov

n oolde upon th

re t . eonelett

p eh u

t r ioo barould be ado ted:40 purSuIt all' 1 nell nd 200 8 w1 h he r auxilee co d e own d1rect trolll n to 1t 81 n The route10 hIe heee tlew 1tOU d e trolled by f lU ye8sels o

or b1 a aurprll1e Ian 1aIrshIps. Idw-:I lellan w ule! be s zed elw th he 0 e1tS f r 111 S b Y by a1rch d

exa Ie sOm81th t .csemb11 th e u I las r , hen BrIBub.riDe ee t eUlhol'e 1 n 1 r t In e J:8l'd elles and blewa br dire.

As ldw '1 Is l 18 onl'1 1 11e ! r ~ lulu nthere a e in e"e'1lnrr s 11 181andll 11 he w 0 l les.ach 0 h ~ r . &01 ot wh ch oou b ueed s I'dI' mes n l lUp UedBub_rlnes or a irel 'l l t , the ttacl': 0 d e e ra lvely e ay.weapana ueed t't 'o. he alrpl nes w ld

s rd aa on water au 11ea.Phosgene ~ a on al dro es, e nton e te nayy y rde.High ex loelyee on alrdr es, n 1 fuel a n thecity ot HonolUlu. (Tbe uee of hlrh exploelve galnetHonolulu to be co blned wIth no lee 0 ey eu te I twlth1n tour boure. when i t would e eubJec ed to a6aUack.)!here le no adequate defense E\ e all ' c except

an all ' tOl'O.. !h i . eIln be Ilupple nted by uxHl rlee on the grcnhella . . obln. ~ u and balloon

~ rra es. but without


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such as t e 08 richa ir t o ~ e s 1n the

s t el when he hides hiS hend in the se dopean war lost lesS than one-tenth or o

p cont t i - l rcr f t efen e of a l l kln rther

~ n aefenses c n be e sily n e u t r a ~ i z e d . P rt lcularly i f theyat emptl to ac Indepen ently

Consider wh t an ad not a t t ched to the a lr tor

a t ck such as h s been de cribeg8lnst Hawa11 wo Id mean, undefended as i t lS t ~ d a y 1th odera1rcraft; and bear 1n lnd hat such a Bc a could be repeatedleaat hroe t1 es a day unless etopp d by an a lr force.

I have clted the landlcan be done, tb t Instant co' mun oation "1 h .r ph 1s assured at t an aeroMut\ca advance on HonolUlu can be lllI: de L edlatelafterward. Once a p rmanent r oti wae obt lned by n eae oany of the is lande. oahu c o ~ l d be educed by eron u leal 81e eno a ount or sea power or 1 nd power culd be able to stop I t .sl rc f t wo d s n or estroy the surface shipe as f s t as t eapoe red. _ en could a rcrart c rrlerll or t r a ~ s or reach theYlc tnlty of the islandS. hey would have to es abllsh themselve

rwaaentl1 on land in order to operate arfec lvely.I f we desire to hold the Haw 11an Is l de. e at a

our detenue on n a lr force capable of cover ng efr.ect1vel no

I the 1rectl n of J& n. Co ero1ally, we must x end our &1hu eleven hundred

onl1 ..ery inhab1ted lsland of ho roup, but the t r 11 islands and shoals t t oxten fro

of ree

ewep the c if c, both by airpl ne and a ir hlp !he Philippine ISlandS are a source or s t r te loal w

1 B . ~ . .d or strength. Jap n 18 pr c ica1ly Jo nc up to


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by an airway hr h her IslandS wh eh extenft to ne Just 8 uthfOrmosa, C l Ied ote1 ~ o b a o. Tha ls l n 1e UA six Y mlles awfroa the n o r t h e r ~ o s t ls1an ot the Philipplne roup. from therIs a contlnuous chaln up to the l s l nd of uz n whlch contains t

la tontes r ike.

18 w thout n

o II nry1 cwhich we woul

h any Aeia le power,s t , which wae a neoessity th i r t ye rs a

1 IIlta

re la l ly , we c n t ade with1\y or Manila. Coarmed ba.e In the rarSb uld we become Involved In war wthan tho Philippines1. cloaer",to the Yi al pOln s a a l s

The Uni ed States ' colonl 1ex l o l t l ~ e i t h ~ r the people or the islandS or the ir resourcell I

rt icular rea on for Unitedway that would i l l tatethat ee nomic 111 the e i8 no

t he well ei of h inhabitant

stayi there. P 1it ieal ly , howey , here i8 a decided reason.Should we eTacuate tll Ph 11 ines, they W'J Id be seized iID ediaby Jap n. The pe Ie uld be enslaTed in the w y that those otand or oea h ve been. The Ja nese wOl1d then cooplete a s1steirways Bnd ~ 1 1 1 t a r 1 depots alo the IslandS blan e t l s la anwould e a Japn se la e ot the w ta r between these lslands, ohlcb no eo eree C'JU d move wlth u thel r ermiSsio.

OUr evacuation ot the Phl lipp ines would ean the extii of t.he ~ t o h pit'e 1n the r . s t , ec u e the Japanese wo1 ~ i a t e l b 1n p-opaganda & m o ~ tbe na ivee, 'whlcb uld causl n a u r r e o t . 1 ~ n . and serIOUS t r ~ u b l e . Thi , 1n com in tion witb RUaot.iYlt1.. t roa the north, would probably 1e d eYentually to &n

i_I of the poople ot Indi and a serIous blow a t the Bri t is.....eretore the UnIted States should keep t e PhIlippine

down on the PbI lipp ines and &tte p to dete d thea w


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Ie 0 notbl bo beet eten's 0 the hi1ippl e a a l ~ 5 t theJapane8e wo d be a di eot a 0 a tnst a ~ a n from 1 .a.

'!'he 111 ar ol1oy or he n ted ';to.to in the P 11 P lnh e ~ e ore 8hol1 be to n In on y e l 10 en i1ito.ry ower to

l n e u ~ peace n r n ull1 y on he na Ivee and 0 h va s 11o p e r a t 1 n ~ foroes t U8e ln h [ te e f r he pro actlonof A rlcan 1 ves a n proper y. To do more t n blS ould 1eto a useless 8 e of A eric n 1 va n ran 0 e o w

Outside ot he i ted 5t tes p per, 1 a is 0 mostimoortant po n with re rd t u rotection a g n t s la . Thedistance to B wa 1 ~ r o m Alas 8 on 1300. l 1 e , 0' red to2000 miles from our P 0 f lc 00 s t . 1 ak 1e wit. in etr1 kl.distanoe of any p1 oe we nt 0 r o ~ o h a ~ a , e thor 00 e claly or \n a m lit ry y.

L t t1e d d gocretar Sewa n o how le11 h wa bu11dlw n he Ino eted th 1 s a e from the ~ u 1 ns. e wetor u te lnd ad t at I e che pl as we d, h s , t 7,40The story a . to how I t as p u r o h ~ e e haa ly r c n b e c o ~ e knowaa I t Was never publlahed for re a s a t teo I ae a ofhe i v l l , the Ru a1 ns pr poaed th t th y eel ua the te r i to

ot 1 I ey h3d ust t iniehe a w r r -a1n 1n theCrl , and were hav1 re_t d e ~ l of r' Ie over a s ~ , eoauthiS prOYI co touched Canada and b re as cJns nt a r l f between, tUr t raders , t I t 1"1 Ish Au aon y e. .10 th.ee Co nlee nbe I l lan f arican Compan1es. RuSSl th u h th t by Interpo log

d S be ween her 5lber n 008sea 10 a 1 od'eOle l n. she w ~ be ~ ca l mf of


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able to cope with her, between themeelyes. She reed to ael l

the xce, :m of Russ1a. er aln over

t th e J u n c t u ~ e , the e v i l ' rterr\toI 'J to the United 5 tee tor 1,

i 1

anro ut,/\._ e handstion ot ro e 8

,000.

o ret the United ~ t a t e B were t led.t r len ly to the o nern slde wwere on the p01"l o f ar wl t G e"prlyateer8 in QrltI8h por ts t r he Contede c1, a w h nceoyer the seizure of exico. The Uni ed B. es needed friendlydemonBtratl n tro a 8 e t po er nd Ru S B t she elleY ; 1 l 1 l ~ to eend a t leet 0 ew York and ano he to 5 n Franci coon a vUl t ot t r ie dllhlp and ood wHl. She re Hed th t ehe woulbe d e l l ~ h t e d to do 8 0 , ut h t r i "oul 'Ie :> b 1 tor bythe UnIted 5ta ee. e they th elves we e en r t ot money. U nour Inqu ry, 81a lit ted they n cd 0 6, , to defraythe expeneee ot t trien v 1 ur , Co r 88 could nobe &eted tor thte a ount, ae then 1 wou1 be M o l 8 0 n thatthe friendly v e l t was chased b 1\ erle ney ltll eftecon the' other natione would h 'Ie been dl lnlll ed accord! 11; eonotbl wa. 8ald b ut thle 8U3 0 mone un 1 t er h Cly11When an appropr1atl n or 7,400,000 w s n e by C rese _1,200,000 tor A1 8)[ nd 6,roo,ooo f r the vis l t f the f leeU

e y well "e1 over t 18 I'l 11 r ice . The value othe otal productll ot 1 IIIr& fro e 1 e 1 8 !lnexed 1n 18\0 -, alllount to OYer bl1llon dol a rl!1P 81 le e X'

la , tuN, t l l lb and other pro c s unt t re th nt ten t l ell the pure aSe pr1 e lone.

1 18 he eeono le yalu ot 1. treMndou8, b


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{her e tra'881c Talue 18 eyen ~ r e a t e r . a8 alre ~ cxpl I n e ~ . In aoon'.. , between thls c ~ n t l n e t and ela I t wo d bo ~ e c 1 8 1 T e . laeIe the " e ~ e U ont" or bridge head, tor E u r ~ ean culture ae exepl1tled 1n Aaer1ca, ae o p p o s e ~ to ABiat1c culture.

In eu t100. we can m9 e he S a t e ~ e n t wi b ~ u t te r tbel salneald. th t a lr power 1e tbe decidlof the paOlt lC; wlthout I t , an7 a t t e ~ p t 0 holproteot our own country ~ a 1 n 8 t an enemy .,11

r ctor 1n our detenou 08see810ne or

e r lUelle.


18/20

..

EFFECT OF AIR POWER ON M I L I ~ A R Y OPEPATIONS...With th is b rie f view of the pol i t ical and mili tary condition

of the various cOuntries bordering the Pacif ic Ocean, l e t us considerwhat the s trategical donditions in the Pacif ic are a t the present time,from th e standpo in t of the United States .

Air power has completely changed the method o f app lying militarypower. While i t s effect has been very great on land operations, it hasnot yet changed the character of land forces o the i r general methodsof o p e r a t i o n . ~ e use of an a ir force a t the inception of a war may bedecisive and not require the use of one army against another to obtainthe decision , but i f the use of armies becomes necessary, they wil l s t iuse infantry, ar t i l l e ry , possibly some cavalry, and many of the auxi l iaies that have heretofore been employed.

Air power's effect on a navy, however, will e ntir ely change a l lmethods and means fo rmerly used by sea forces. To beg in with, no surfacvessels can eXist wherever a ir forces acting from la nd bases are ableto attack them. This is because

a. A surface vessel cannot conceal i t se l f from the view of a i rc rab. Aerial weapons: the bomb, mines, chemical weapons,air and wate

torpedoes, and gunfire, can destroy and completely put out ofact ion a t a minimum cost and effor t any surface vessel that habeen bui l t or that can be bui l t .

c . There i8 no eff ic ient means of defense against a i rc ra f t fromthe vessels themselves ei ther by missi le throwing weapons,ballo r other barrages, or chemical weapons. I J Y O M .d. A 8urface navy can n o t ~ o p e r a t e a i r c r a ~ r ~ m f loat ing basesA..ainet a i rc ra f t acting from land b ases. because th e platfo rm


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ai lable for launching the airplanes i s so small ,contracted,unstableand exposed to hosti le a i r at tack that nei ther suff ic ient nor suitableaircraf t can be launched from them, to cope with a ir forces acting fromshore bases.

; -The future naval arrangements wil l , therefore, be confined, fo r o ffen siv epurposes, ~ vessels capable of diving below the surface of the w ater to

t ' - ' ~ rk ~ conceal themselves from view an a ~ As ai rcraf t are able to dominate completely the surface of the

water within thei r radi i o f ope ra tions , i t will be impossible to t ransport g re at numbers of men or masses of materiel in surface vessels acrosssea areas in war unt i l complete control of the a ir is obtained.

In the f i r s t stages of a contest for the control of the a i r , thel inea of operation wil l be along coast l ines, where secure a ir basescan be seized and held. Small is lands offer great advantages becausethey can be easily defended from sea craf t and, on the other hand, canbe easily supplied e i ther by a i r or by s U b m e r s i b l e , ~ ..4- ,In a war between the United States an\l. Japan, an advance cannot' n . L ~ ~ ~ W3-y '1 / ~ ~ " ' -m a d e A ~ the southern IineAwfth any great h ~ p e of success because,aswil l be seen fur ther on is tQ1i , Japanese a ir pOTIer completelya.. ~ s z ; t ; : . . , - Wl\.-Vdominates it. C o n s e q u e n t 1 Y ~ a l ine of a ir bases .wi11 have to be estab_l i shed along the coast to Alaska and thence to Asia under cover of whichany direct operat ion s against the main island ofJapan \i111 have to bemade. In the event of moving an army to the Far Bast, i t i s not incon_oeivable that the advance e1emen ts ,i f not a preat par t of the force,~ & D t have to be moved up the inside passage to S k ~ w a y , A l a s k a , over

Pas. by railway, thence down the Yukon and across Bering Sea Daive against Japan i t s e l f would be decisive because a l l

-16_


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Japanese ci t ies , centers o f population and agricul tural areas, l iealong the valleys of the streams, are congested, and easily located.

In general , their structure is of paper and wood or other inflam-mable substances. T h depart from this cha ract er o f constructibecause of earthquakes. , U J J t . . ) ~r ~ ~ C J A 4 ~ ~ 0

j , JrY'..;-\ k Y . J ~tfVJP

America, Air Power, And the Pacific, 1928

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Transcript of America, Air Power, And the Pacific, 1928