Evening star., 1940-06-19
Begin Training Now!

Begin Training Now!
1t is we'll that President Roosevelt
and members of the Congress have
begun to think seriously about the
advlsability of adopting some system
OF universal training for national
defense-along military and nom
combatant lines. But mere pondering
Is not enough. The Star believes that
1T would be the height of impru-
dence for this Congress to forego
immediate and fortnight considera-
ton of this vital problem of training
reserve man power. There seems to
be a disposition at the Capitol to
look upon any form of conscription
as political "hot potato" that should
be laid aside at least until conven-
tions and elections are out of the
way. This attitude presupposes that
emergencies will await the conven-
ience of politicians, that the tide of
world revolution will halt or abate
while America makes up it's mind
about further preparedness meas
ures
AS matter of fact, unless some
miracle should stem the formidable
totalitarian tidal wave, we do not
have any minutes to spare in prepar-
Ing for the worst that might happen.
Belatedly, we have taken steps to pro-
vide ourselves with the implements
OF war deemed necessary to meet the
threat from abroad, but men skilled
IN the manufacture, maintenance
and use of those implements are
still lacking in numbers and in train
Ing. Colonel Frederick Palmer, noted
military observer and war CORE
spondent, just returned from Eu-
rope, pointed out in an article in The
Sunday Star that we must not ignore
the lessons of Allied unpreparedness.
There is no preparing an Army in
hurry for the swift processes of war;"
he declared. transcription of man
power for combat service is too late
after war has begun. And in spite of
planes, tanks, antiaircraft guns and
all the complexity of modern mech
anism, it is still the fighting skill and
spirit of the soldier and sailor which
count" He urged that universal mil
itary service be begun at once, with
view to preparing a reservoir of
two million trained men for war
duties.
The first task in connection with
military training, of course, is to
build up our Regular Army to a
much greater strength. The House
unanimously has approved a bill
authorizing expansion of the regular
forces from 100000 to 100000 men.
AS a second step, General Marshall,
chief OF staff, has suggested that
additional training and seasoning
OF troops should be provided through
the National Guard. Beyond that
there have been proposals for "ele-
mentary" military training courses
In the Civilian Conservation Corps,
for revival of the "Plattsburg sys-
tenn OF voluntary citizens train
Ing camps and for speeding up
graduation of officers at Annapo-
lis and West Point. These are
all desirable, as far as they go; but
they do not go far enough, consider
Ing the nature and the progress of
events across the Atlantic Ocean. It
takes many precious weeks merely to
set up registration machinery for Sc
lectlve training and many months, in
addition, to give raw recruits work.
Ing knowledge of the fundamentals
OF military service. Are we to repeat
our shortsightedness of 1916 and 1917
and wait until war has descended
upon us in all its fury before we be-
gin to train our man power for de-
Tense?
The Star hopes that Congress, with
active administration leadership, will
tackle the question of compulsory
military - and civilian - training
without further evasion and quib-
bling; that some system of universal
instruction for the Nations youth
will be approved before there is any
thought of adjournment, and that
Initial appropriations will be voted
at least to begin setting up the ma
chinery which will be required to
handle the large undertaking. The
Star believes that public opinion
would be preponderantly behind such
a move, and that young America
would welcome the opportunity to
prepare for any emergency. Action
now in making ready for any even
tuality may spare US tears and
blood and sweat" in some future hour
of peri1