Evening star., 1940-06-14
Universal Military
raining Urged
Service to Country Held
Paramount Duty in
Time Of Danger
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
I have just read your editorial on
compulsory military training. which
heartily approve in theory. but 1t does
not 60 far enough to suit me. Why limit
it to the young people? When our lib
erty is threatened, which today every
rational American will admit, let us
compel every citizen to do his bit. In
ordinary peace times. when most ma
tions are living in harmony, our demo-
cracy permits us not only to choose our
civil leaders, but to organize among our
selves and to choose such vocations as
we may desire, but in extraordinary
times such as the present, when our
liberty is endangered, our Government
should command us to perform such
duties as will best protect our liberties
and the form of government of which we
are so proud. Our liberty. freedom and
pursuit of happiness are now being
threatened by unscrupulous nations
Therefore, we must be forever vigilant
Universal compulsory military service
in this crisis is an essential part of our
preparedness. BattleshipS, aeroplanes,
tanks, machine guns and rifles are USE
less without persons trained to use them
Those Americans who are unfit to use
them in actual combat should be trained
to design, manufacture or assemble
them. There is special place where
every true American will fit in this
great preparedness program, and let no
one think he can decide where or how
he can best serve his country in this
crisis. IT this military service should
apply to all alike, without exception, re-
gardless of social, political or economic
position, we would then add a lead
horse to the team our President spoke
of that existed between him and the
Congress. When every one is treated
alike, no one can complain
If any one thinks that Mr.. Hitler is
not headed for the Americas, l would
suggest that they read "Mein Kampf i"
In this book he states that for Ger
many to again shed its blood to recover
only the provinces and territory taken
from her by the Treaty of Versailles
would be nonsense He states that Ger
many is predestlned eventually to rule
the world and at present must have more
territory for her ver-increasing popula-
ton and that this territory must and
Will be taken by the sword. Now, which
Is the most probable country he has in
mind? In all of the countries he has
conquered so far. as we'll as in France
Or England, there will be found lust as
many people per square mile as are found
In Germany. Therefore. he is looking
elsewhere for territory South America
unprepared, with all its wealth and re-
sources and where there are at present
many so-called colonies of Germans, is
Just the spot for which he is headed
This attempt of Hitler to interfere with
the free governments of South America
which at the present time is being car
ried on by his fifth column" is a di
rect violation of the Monroe Doctrine
and an act of war Hitler, through his
Nth column in this country, has and
WIN w oil llc Cdtl W Keep us neutral,
but we must remember that the German
conception of neutrality is that a country
shall take no action against it. or to
protect itself. until Germany is ready to
take it over by force
Great Britain and France were our
allies in 1917 and. as the present con-
f1lct is merely a continuation of that
war we are their allies today and must
and will give them all material aid with
in our power. To protect our allies and
defend ourselves we must have Congress
pass universal compulsory military
training law before it is too late. Let us
take the warning Hitler gave to his peo-
pie in his book, where he states. Il
warned against the soothing slogan of
all cowardly wretches Nothing can hap
pen to US A similar pestilential att-
tude has destroyed one great empire al
ready" I hope and pray that all Ameri-
cans who believe Nothing can happen
to u.s. will read "Mein Kampf."
June II. RICHARD E. WEXFORD.