美国的战力(英中对照)

古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
美国的战力
by launching a surprise attack on pearl harbour on 7 december 1941, japan prompted the united states to enter world warⅡ. one of the reasons the japanese struck first was the belief that the americans could not sustain a prolonged wartime effort.
the japanese hardly realised the jaw-dropping extent of the enormous capacity and efficiency of the united states' war production, which can be summed up in one line: the ford motor company alone could produce more military equipment than italy.
special mention should also go to henry ford's great project, known as"willow run". he offered to build the united states government a factory that could produce one four-engine heavy bomber every hour. almost everyone thought it was impossible, and they were correct. william run did not average one bomber every 60 minutes. it averaged one bomber every 63 minutes.

一九四一年十二月七日，日本偷袭珍珠港，引致美国参与第二次世界大战。日本抢先出手的原因之一，是以为美国战斗力不能持久。
但日本人不明白美国的战争生产力。这庞大生产力多么惊人和有效率，可用一句话说明：单是福特汽车公司，可生产的武器，已经胜过全意大利。
特别值得一提的，是亨利．福特的「柳径」大计。他提议为美国政府建造一座工厂，每小时可生产一架四引擎重型轰炸机。几乎没有人相信这计划可以实现，而他们也没有错。柳径生产一架轰炸机的平均时间不是六十分钟，而是六十三分钟。