The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-02

nIo,p.s',- ton. II means
''' "A''ey also the selec-
ton Of those best fitted to main
tain our armed forces by continued
performances of necessary civilian
tasks"
Major Battleys a specialist on
the subject. He's occupational adj
wiser at Selective Service head
quarters. as we'll as chief of the as
sistant war secretary Offices Selec-
tive Service section. He's addicted
to expressions like a contemptuous
"Humphw He's blunt almost to
brusqueness. He doesn't chat long.
however, without revealing an in
nate kindness, sense of humor
and understanding beneath his air
Of professional austerity. And his
practical patriotism has behind it
a background of approximately rs
years service with our armed
forces and more than eight years
Of study and planning in connec-
ton with the Selective Service
system.
"The immediate and increasingly
urgent requirement for national
defense" continues the major, lis
speedier production Of military ma
terial and supplies. AS this need
grows and the supply OF skilled
workers is depleted, it can only be
met by calling on the boys who can
handle monkey wrench-the boys
on the farms and in the small
towns.
Good Judgment Needed
For this reason, and because the
United States may haze TO become
the breadbasket as well as the ar
senal of embattled democracy, local
boards in such vicinities should
be extremely careful not to make
military selection Of lads whose
skill or aptitude will soon be sorely
needed in factories or on the land.
While this isn't to say that all me-
chanics or farm sboys should be
deferred, it is to say that good
judgments called for. We mustn't
cripple the country's industrially
and agriculturally defensive capa-
city, in trying to build up its armed
forces Soldiers have to have arms,
food and clothes as well as train
ing.
And serious considerations be-
ing given to decentralizing produce
ton Of aircraft, ordnance and mill
tary material generally. The trend
isn't only to farm out the manu-
facture OF parts and accessories TO
shops in our smaller cities and
towns; It likewise is to build new
plants in such localities-for safety
from sabotage, for convenience in
transportation and to provide en-
ployment for rural labor in slack
seasons.
Much already has been done In
that direction in connection with
aircraft production. Assembly
plants are being set up in the GEN.
trail states. to which parts are be-
ing shipped from our large EASTERN,
midwestern and western Industrial
centers.
Having set these smaller plants
a-going, we've got to have hands
to man en-"
Replying to complaint that to-
days local boards are freer with
deferments than the last wars
boards we're. the major quotes
Provost Marshal General Crowder,
who administered that draft, 10 the
effect that there was an alarming
curtailment of production in Ger.
tain fields in the spring Of 1918. be-
cause boards then were too strict
in interpreting the term "neees-
-saEy- enterprise"-that is. Jobs that
men mad better have been left al
home to attend TO-.
last Wars Mistakes
Why, during the first World
war recalls the major. 'ft was
necessary to furlough certain men
from our armed forces, who were
indispensable 70 agriculture and in
dustry, TO enable EN- to return to
their cigil pursuits, TO prevent
supply breakdown.
We mustn't repeat the last
wars mistakes. We must see that
essential men remain at the pro-