Vol. 1—No. 49
U. S. Navy Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, N. C.
Saturday, August 28, 1943
The fortress
of Europe
By Ens. W. 0. Shanahan, USNR
Academic Department
The Fortress of Europe has be
come more than a propaganda ex-
I-ression: it is a symbol of the
Axis’ decision to stand upon the
defensive during the remainder
of the war.
That the enemy should adopt a
defensive strategy comes as a sur
prise to a generation that has
thought of Axis armies solely as
attacking forces. Yet defense has
been advocated by many outstand
ing German theorists.
Kai'l von Clausewitz, whose
principal work, On War, is the
source of all modern German mili
tary theory, regarded defense as
“the stronger form.” One of the
ttiost brilliant staff officers of
World War I, General Max von
Hoffman, urged the German High
Command in 1917 to abandon its
Costly attacks and stand upon the
defensive. What the Germans are
now attempting is essentially a
niodernized version of Hoffman’s
plan.
By the end of 1917 the German
armies were masters of all Central
Europe, the Balkans (except
Greece), Finland and the Baltic,
Poland, western Russia, and the
Ukraine. In these vast domains
lived more than 150,000,000 per
sons whose creative energies could
^6 utilized to work the fields,
i^ines, and industries for their con
querors. If fully exploited the eco
nomic resources of eastern Europe
^ight enable Germany to with
stand the naval blockade and main
tain enough ai'med strength to
beat off Allied land assaults.
When Max von Hoflfman made
^-is proposal in 1917 the defense
enjoyed an immense tactical
superiority over the offense. In
fantry purchased its advance in,
tbe face of machine guns and
Qnick-firing field pieces at an ex-
See EUROPE, page 4- '
Hon. Artemus L. Gates Praises Cadets
Dignitaries Inspect Sports Program
THE HONORABLE Artemus L. Gates watches the Sports Program
with interest. Reading, left to right, Capt. Frank Ward, USN;
Comdr. John P. Graff, USN (Ret.); Honorable Artemus Gates and
William D. Carmichael, Jr.
Movie Schedule
Aug. 28—Free movie at Village
Theatre, “Frankenstein Meets the
Wolf Man” with Lon Chaney, Jr.,
and Bela Lugosi. Feature starts
at 1553, 1938 and 2101. Complete
show one hour, 21 minutes.
Aug. 29—Free movie at Village
Theatre, “Gunga Din” with Cary
Grant and Victor McLaglen. Fea
ture starts at 1310 and 1502.
Complete show two hours, two
minutes.
Wednesday Evening Movies
Four, instead of the customary
three, films will be shown for Pre-
Flight personnel in Memorial
Hall next Wednesday starting at
1930. The movies to be shown are
Fight for Egypt,” ‘‘The Battle,”
R. A. F. in Action” and ‘‘Quiz-
craft No. 2.”
A. S. Tardy Promoted
To Warrant OflBcer
Alvin S. Tardy, Chief Radio
man, who has been in naval service
for 23 of his 40 years, was pro
moted last week to Radio Elec
trician with Warrant Officer’s
status.
More than half of his Navy
years have been spent at sea, in
cluding service aboard the car
riers, Saratoga and Lexington;
the battleships. West Virginia,
Colorado, and Nevada; the cruis
ers, Chester and Omaha; the de
stroyers, Thompson and Rath-
burne; repair and supply ships,
Buffalo and Vulcan; and the mine
sweeper, Swallow.
Visits Station
Rear Admiral J. H. Hoover,
USN, toured the activities of this
station last week.
Says Fliers Must
Be Tough and Alert
Reminding the regiment of
cadets that there is no room in
this war for the “dreamer type”
of flier but only for the “toughest
and most alert,” the Honorable
Artemus L. Gates, Assistant Sec
retary of the Navy for Air, ad
dressed the graduating 27th bat
talion of the U. S. Navy Pre-
Flight School a week ago yes
terday.
The ceremonies were held in
Kenan Stadium.
Gates complimented the aviation
cadets with “I am very glad we
are not playing on opposite teams,”
and continued:
“In war today there is no room
for the dreamer type of flier. Only
the toughest and most alert become
the best pilots, and only the best
pilots become the oldest pilots.
The Navy wants you to become the
oldest pilots.”
Following the talk by Mr. Gates
a regimental review was held.
Band Gives Second
Concert Tomorrow
In Forest Theatre
The second in the series of sum
mer concerts will be given by the
Pre-Flight band tomorrow in the
outdoor Forest Theatre opposite
Navy Hall starting at 1680.
Among the selections to be play
ed will be the spirited March and
Procession of Bacchus from
Delibes ballet, Sylvia, Irving Ber
lin’s Blue Skies, and a revival of
the old favorite, Dardanella.
Guest entertainers on tomor
row’s program will include Fletch
er Henderson, members of his
famous band and his trio of girl
vocalists. Also appearing will be
Stephnia DeHugaley, dramatic
soprano.
Directing the Pre-Flight band
will be James B. Parsons, first
musician.