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This situation has continued and since then the yearly apportions for Naval aviation have exceed those made for the Army, even though Army air requirements are greater at present in proportion to those of the Navy then when the above statement was made by Secretary Weeks.  

The Navy is usually considered our first line of defense, and based upon such a premise, is built and maintained sufficiently strong even in time of peace to combat the strongest Navy that may come against us and to control those sea areas vital to our defense. The Army, on the other hand, is organized at minimum strength barely sufficient to meet our peace time needs, relying on the established policy that in can be brought to proper strength after the declaration of war under the protection afforded by the fleet and our fixed defenses. This policy has also been possible due to the fact the oceans to our east and west have provided physical barriers which in conjunction with our fleet formed nearly insurmountable obstacles to be overcome by an enemy. 
Practically the same conditions formerly existed in the case of England and was the controlling factor in dictating her policy of defense. The English Channel and North Sea provided barriers that successfully protected her from attack so long as she was sufficiently strong on the sea. Consequently, both nations have rightly turned to strong fleets as providing there best means of accomplishing their ends, the objective of each being the development of Sea Power and Control of the Seas. 

Since aircraft became a controlling factor in war, and Air Power
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