Killing Power, Not]
Firepower, Aim Os
Unde Sam's Army
i i —/
(Editor’s note: Following' is the
fiist in a series df six (articles
comparing a U. S. Army combat
infantry division with the infantry
division of the Soviet Russian
Army.)
The American public has been told
that a Russian Army Infantry division
has ten per cent more firepower on
a man-for-man basis than a larger
United 'States 'Army infantry division.
This is true.
This statement has led many Ameri
cans to believe .that Russian divisions
are organized more efficiently than
American divisions.
This is not true.
The U. (S. Army division is a high
ly technical fighting machine, and be
cause of its organization it is the
most lethal the world eveT has seen.
It has more killing power than any
similar combat unit ever created.
This has been proved in Korea,
where the 'Reds have suffered ten
battle casualties to our one.
A (U. S. Army infantry division
moves faster, gets into action quicker,
"kills more efficiently, and sustains it
self in combat longer than any di
vision of any other army anywhere
in the world—>on either side of the
Iron Curtain.
'Not only does the U. IS. Army have
more killing power than any other, it
also provides its soldiers with better
weapons, equipment, clothing, food,
and medical care than any other army
in the world. High morale —essential
to an efficient fighting force—is main
tained in the U. IS. Army through ser
vices ava’lable to no other army,
The American public would not stand
for abolition of a single one of them.
The single word that has misled
many Americans is "firepower.”
“’Firepower” is synonymous in the
minds of most Americans with killing
power.
Yet, in the U. S. Army—which cre
ated the word “firepower”—there is a
distinct difference.
'Firepower is a yardstick used to
measure the maximum capability of
weapons. It is not a gauge of a f ight
ing unit’s efficiency.
In using firepower as a yardstick
to compare effectiveness of a U. S.
infantry division with that of a for
eign division, one assumes that all
weapons are employed with full ef
fectiveness.
Full effectiveness of every weapon
never has been achieved at any one
time by any division in any army.
It never will be. Full effectiveness
would mean absolute accuracy of every
shot fired, perfect target selection,
and perfect concentrations of fire —
with every weapon of the division in
action and unaffected by the fire of
an enemy.
Clearly, this is impossible. Hence,
•firepower, in itself, is not an accurate
system of measuring a division’s com
bat efficiency. There is no simple
formula that will show a combat unit
of one country to be ten, 20 or 50 per
cent better or worse than a unit of
another country.
A division’s combat efficiency—
killing power—depends not only on the
number of weapons it has but also on
the skill of the men who use them,
dependable communications for fire
direction, ability to get the weapons
to the proper place at the proper time,
a ready supply of ammunition, main
tenance, and myriad other factors.
This means an effective combat
force must have many highly-skilled
specialists who, although not actually
firing' a gun themselves, are neces
sary 'for the unit to bring its full
firepower into action on a given point
at a moment’s notice.
This is effective firepower—killing
power—and the U. S. Army infantry
division has far more of it than any
similar unit in any other army any
where.
Curious
“Who is that letter from?”
“What do you want to know for?”
“There you are! What do I want to
"know for? You’re the most inquisi
tive person I ever met.”
ana periect concentrations or lire —
with every weapon of the division in • ___
action and unaffected by the fire of * /
an enemy. \
Clearly, this is impossible. Hence, . \
firepower, in itself, is not an accurate
system of measuring a division's com- yf
bat efficiency. There no simple / 'W M
formula that will show a combat unit f ! /
of one country to be ten, 20 or 50 per f f\/ m
cent better or worse than a unit of f M\ / */-’nk
another country. \ \ 7 / \s 1
A division’s combat efficiency— \ \ / 1 C\ I
killing power—depends not only on ithe '"■•A. )' /1
number of weapons it has but also on x \_/f f
the skill of the men who use them, t
dependable communications for fire + J f.
direction, ability to get the weapons
to the proper place at the proper time, %0%0M9 |f wf/f VlT** \Yf/f7?T7r T T7U'L
a ready supply of ammunition, main- rr»ry^r'/,y|T’
tenance, and myriad other factors. A A„ _ J j\ §¥) I
This means an effective combat OmwMfOwmS ffF fmO/mO dßk A £? IjSf
force must have many highly-skilled ira'p’
specialists who, although not actually In 1
firing a gun themselves, are neces- -* §
sary 'for the unit to bring its full The doctor, the druggist, the grocer ___ I ;
firepower into action on a given point 5? • at* always at your hand when you " f
at a moment’s notice. telephone. It’s as if everyone you wanted Jr
This is effective firepower—killing to reach were dangling from your wrist, \ > I
power—and the U. S. Army infantry waiting for you to talk to them. ' 'A f
division has far more of it than any To measure the true value of your * \
similar unit in any other army any- telephone, compare its high convenience with
w}tere - die low cost of service. Then you'll fully realize
“ that nothing else gives you so much for so little.
Curious 1
Norfolk & Carolina Tel. & Tel. Co.
know for? You’re the most inquisi- Elizabeth City Edenton Heritor Manteo Sunbury
live person I ever met.”
I jjffflf, llf®if
i |
| “YOU’RE NOT TAKING ME FOR A RIDE” seems to be the attitude of this reluctant mule intent
on keeping all four feet on terra firma as soldiers strain to get him aboard the Army’s new helicop- 1
ter near Philadlephia. Dubbed the “Army Mule,” the H-25A Piasecki Helicopter is one of the latest
additions to the Army’s growing fleet of versatile “whirly-birds”—or is this one a “whirlv-mule”?
COLLEGE \
Each spring as soon as the weather
turns warm we get the “fever” to get
out in our gardens and plant things.
Because of this many trees and shrubs
are transplanted at that time of thej
year which ought to have been plant- |
ed in November or Decembtr. In areas j
that have severe winters, spring plant-'
ing is probably best but in mild cli-(
mates like ours planting at this time
of the year has advantages. The win
ter rains will settle the soil about the
roots and the roots will actually start
growth before the buds push out ini
the spring. Spring planted trees and
shrubs often do not get well settled
before hot dry weather is upon them,
and unless they are watered, mulched
and well cared for some of them will j
not survive—especially in a summer
season like the last one.
In taking up Shrubs and trees save
as much of the root system as possi
ble, especially in the case of those j
that do not have a fibrous root sys
tem. In transplanting, dig the hole!
large enough to accommodate the,
roots without crowding. Fill in around j
the roots with top soil, pack well,]
and leave a slight depression around
the plant for the purpose of watering.
Spring planted Shrubs must be wa-
THE CHOWAN HERALD. EDBNTON, N. C„ THURSDAY JANUARY 1, 1953.
tered unless there is plenty of rain.
Mulching with straw or rotted leaves
'is desirable. Do not use commercial
fertilizer or manure in the hole next
ito the roots. Fertilizer can be worked
i into the soil on top just before growth
jstarts in the spring,
j Shallow rooted plants such as aza
(leas and camellias should be trans
planted at the same depth as they were
before. Fruit trees and most other
shrubs and trees may be planted at
the same depth or slightly deeper than
l they were.
If there has been a heavy loss of
roots in taking up the shrub or tree,
and there usually is, the top should be
pruned back to balance the plant—
j otherwise little pruning is necessary.
Because of the response to my ar
ticle of last December on the poin
settia, I am repeating the article with
’some additions.
The poinsettia has long been a pop
! ular Christmas plant but probably few
i people have given much thought to
jthe fact that it does come into bloom 1
j each year only at this season. The so
called blooms are really leafy bracts
which color up a brilliant red. The
true flowers are the small insignificant
yellowish cups found in the center of
the whorl of red bracts. The poin
settia is one of a group of plants
known as short day plants because it
will bloom only in the season of the
year with short day length periods,
preferably ten hours or less. That is
why it is always in bloom during the
Christmas season and not during the
summer. It could be prevented from
blooming now by lengthening the day
j light period to fifteen hours by means
j of artificial lights. Flower growers
have learned how to bring garden
j chrysanthemums into bloom any month
of the year by using shading cloth to
shorten dhe days and artificial lights
to lengthen the days. The chrysanthe
mum is also a short day plant.
How can one keep a poinsettia plant
3 unt’l next season, After its useful
p ness is over, 1 place it in the basement
1 or some dry place where it will not
1 freeze. Do not water it, or at least
very little, and let the soil dry up.
f Next May bring the plant out, cut the
> stem back about two thirds, wash the
3 old soil off the roots and re-pot in
' new soil. From (hen on handle it like
any other plant. Softwood cuttings
taken in July and rooted will give you
good Christmas bloom.
A good potting soil can be made by
1 mixing equal parts of sandy soil, clay
loam, and well rotted stable manure.
‘ The poinsettia is not an ideal house
plant. It is rather exacting in its re
’ | quirements for best growth. The av-
HAPPY
NEW YEAR!
i
I
| l
J 1 The Directors, Officers and Staff of The ]
-li 1
Bank of Edenton wish you a New Year of
health, happiness and prosperity.
We want you to know how much we value
your confidence and patronage, and we look j
I forward to new opportunities to be of service
in meeting your banking requirements in
1953 '
I BUY UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS
I THE BANK OF EDENTON
ill EDENTON. NORTH CAROLINA
I Safety for Saving
MEMBER FF.DERAI. RESERVE SYSTEM
MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
erage home usually does not afford the
proper temperatures, light, or atmo
spheric conditions. Poinsettdas re
quire regular watering—every day if ;
necessary—but not excessive watering.
They should be placed where they will 1
get a maximum amount of daylight i
and sunshne. 'Day temperatures
should be about 70 to 72 degrees and
night temperatures should never be 1
allowed to drop below 60 degrees. 1
Sharp fluctuations in temperature or
cold drafts may cause the leave® to
drop. A very dry atmosphere or one
containing gas will do the same. The
poinsettia is a short day plant—that
is, it will bloom only when the days
are short (November, December, Jan
uary). Therefore, after late October
it should not be placed where it will
be exposed to artificial light at night.
Such exposure may prevent blooming
' or cause poor blooms.
Every honest man will suppose hon
est acts to flow from honest prin
ciples. —Thomas Jefferson
\AUCTION SALE
'—of— 1
VALUABLE PROPERTY j
COFFIELD HOME
<> t 307 North Broad Street |
■ | EDENTON, N. C. f
; I I
; | ELEVEN ROOMS. DESIRABLE FOR LARGE I
■ I FAMILY OR APARTMENT HOUSE f
SALE SATURDAY, JANUARY 10th
| ON PREMISES AT 11:00 A. M. §
t<> |
I TERMS: 10% ON CONFIRMATION OF SALE. I
! £ BALANCE ON DELIVERY OF DEED. I
1 $ WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY
! AND ALL BIDS. 1
i £ X
W. H. Coffield
. < > x
And Sometimes Not
A farmer wished to insure his barn
and a few stacks.
“What facilities have you,” asked
the insurance man, “for extinguis
ing a fire in your village?”
The man pondered a little wtiile.
Finally he answered, “Well, go*ne
times it rains.”
Beware Coughs
From Common Colds
That HANG ON
Creomulsion relieves promptly because
it goes into the bronchial system to
help loosen and expel germ laden
phlegm and aid nature to soothe and
heal raw, tender, inflamed bronchial
membranes. Guaranteed to please you
or money refunded. Creomulsion has
stood the test of millions of users.
CREOMULSION
•elieves Coughs. Chest Colds. Acute Bronchitis
PAGE NINE