Evening star., 1941-07-16

tnlr0S dem0DlllZed.
Members Of Congress for several
days have talked-not in formal
debate but among themselves
about the draft question ass If 1t
were matter of politics or broad
national policy divorced from spe-
cl1C situations. Today the PreSi-
dent has made it crystal clear that
the risk of demobiliZing the Army is
too great at the moment and that
he feels the selectees should be re-
ouired to stay on for the duration
of the emergency.
Supported by Gen MarShall's re-
marks that to demobllize now would
be a national tragedy the President
is pressing the question for decision.
He had been told that he faced
considerable opposition in Congress
IF so, the time for showdown on
national defense is at hand and
Mr. Roosevelt isn't wavering a bit
about such showdown.
ReprisaI Fear Secuted.
The drafting of troops is never a
pleasant task and the members of
Congress who voted for the draft on
the theory that it would be a one
year military training idea fear that
they may face reprisalS at the polls
In November, 1912. But. on the other
hand the safety of the Nation will
either have been assured by that
date as a consequence OF world
events or else the United States will
be so involved in the international
situation that the legislation to re-
tain Selectees will not of itself be
an important factor in the voting.
So members of Congress. while re-
luctant to go along, will find in the
end that any deviation now from
expert military advice will be more
costly from popularity standpoint
with the large majority of the voters
than what may be said in criticism
by a smaller number who refuse to
concur in the advice of the military
chiefs.
The iSolaIioniSts will not miss the
chance TO muddy the waters by lin
ing up against extension of the term /
OF service for the draft Army. but !
the United States, by sending troops
10 Iceland and by maintaining large
numbers of troops in Hawaii and
the Philippines, has certain Kill
tary obligations that are inescapable.
Should the NaziS launch a sudden
attack on any of the American out
posts and the American forces be
proved inadequate. the War Depart
ment would have a perfect alibi if
at this moment authority to keep
the selectees were to be denied by
Congress
Either the present situation calls
for large defense Army or it
doesn't. Congress has recognized
the need for conscription and has
permitted the Army to be built up
by the draft system. The Navy has
operated on the volunteer basis and
It's sailors and officers have enlisted
for six years. Congress. to be sure,
cld not write the draft legislation
carefully, or what is more accurate,
permitted the isolationists to re-
strict the law in such fashion as to
increase the burdens of the Army.
Qualification Needed.
Thus the administration did not
want any restrictions with respect
to the use of troops outside the
Western Hemisphere because our
Government did not wish to notify
Japan and Germany that the United
States would have to spend weeks
debating such questions in the
middle OF an undeclared war. But
Congress insisted and today the
President, as commander in chief of
the Army and Navy, and Gen. Mar
shall. chief of staff. find themselves
restricted by legislation which really
ought to be clarified in "a hours As
1t is the debate probably will be pro-
longed and the delay in enactment
que to Senate rules will keep the
whole question undecided, which is
OF course, bad for the morale of the
Army itself.
II, as reported. Nazi GERMANY
breaks off diplomatic relations with
the United States-taking an initia-
tive which hitherto it has been
doubted would ever be taken bv Ber-
ln-the legislative situation here
would be accelerated. Likewise anv
hntoWard incident in the Atlantic
indicating that hostilities are nearer
would also have a profound effect
IN congress. But for the moment in
nj See Err oaI G.. R-xxD III