Evening star., 1940-07-11
Complete Defense

PTeSlQenL ROOSeVeltS S request TO
Congress yesterday for nearly five
billions of dollars more for the Army
and Navy was prompted by a proper
concern for the future welfare of the
American people. 1t was not the
product of hysteria nor of interven-
tionism. Burdensome though the
additional appropriations would be,
the figures represent the minimum
estimates of diSpassionate military
and naval experts whose common
objective is one thing only-the plac-
ing of the United States on footing
OF total defense against very threat
ening and very real perils which
menace us from several directions.
Congress already has approved
$4,000,0 100000 naval expansion bill.
designed to provide adequate naval
protection in the Atlantic as we'll
as the Pacific. The new program is
a logical companion measure, in
tended largely to strengthen our
land forces sufficiently to cope with
any invader. In building this army
there is no thought, of course of
aggression in the minds of any one
having to do with the program-and
such suggestions are so fantastic and
so unfair that it is surprising that
the President saw fit to dignity them
with a disavowal of any intent on
the part of this country to become
an aggressor. 1t should be enough
to assert our right and our determi-
nation to defend ourselves and our
vital interests, wherever they may
lie, to the fullest extent of our hu-
man and material resources. 1t will
remain the responsibility of Congress
to send the armed forces of the
Nation into formal action against a
foe and, once war is declared, there
can be no half-hearted. halfway
methods in waging it. 1t will be
total war-and only the exigencies
of the developing fight will govern
the military and naval maneuvers
which may be deemed necessary to
win. To attempt far in advance to
circumscribe operations which may
be demanded by unforeseeable cir
cumstances is futile and unwiSe.
The American people have DEM
onstrated beyond any doubt their
willingness to pay the heavy price
required for self protection, and
members of Congress, fully aware
of their obligations as representa-
tives of the people, will grant the
appropriations necessary for COM
plete security. Their obligations will
not have been discharged. however,
when they have authorized the pur-
chase of equipment for a defense
Army of 100000 men, as provided
in the new program. They must face
frankly and courageously the equally
vital task of providing trained men
to operate the planes and tanks and
artillery, once this materiel is avail
able. There is but one sure and
equitable way of marShaling this
manpower and preparing it to act
efficiently in an emergency. That is
through a system of compulsory
selective military training, such as
is proposed in the Burke adsworth
bill now under consideration at the
Capitol. The President, by implica-
ton, has approved consideration"
of this legislation in a statement
which, while not so specific as it
might have been, seems nevertheless
to recognize that the trained men
which this country will require can
be obtained only through the selec-
tive draft. Our preparedness pro-
gram certainly will prove to be
dismal and costly failure if this
problem of trained manpower. is
permitted to rest upon the present
highly unreliable voluntary basis.