Evening star., 1941-07-16
A National Tragedy


stated that a refusal to extend the
service of the men training in the
Army might we'll involve a ma
tional tragedy it becomes exceed
ingly important to examine and
understand the poverty of the
arguments of those who oppose this
course.
The recommendation to prolong
the training period of the selectees,
the National Guardsmen and the
Reserve officers is most strongly
supported by logic and by the facts
Of the case.
1t is urged without qualification
by General Marshall. the chief of
staff, whose duty it is to perfect the
Army and who is best qualified to
know what is necessary to that end.
It is strongly supported by the Presi-
dent, who is in the best position to
know the extent of the danger con-
fronting the country and who has
the solemn responsibility of insuring
Its security. He fears disintegration
of the Army unless Congress acts
favorably on his request.
And as to the facts. there can be no
dispute. The selectees and the
GuardSmen compose two-thirds of
the Army, and at least three-fourths
of its officer material has been
drawn from the Reserves. They will
be far from adequately trained at
the end of year. and no one con-
tends otherwise. If they are to be
returned to civilian life after year
of service they will not be ready for
modern combat, and it would be at
least another year before their re-
placements could reach an advanced
stage of training. If war should come
in the interval, there simply would
be no Army of the United States. We
would have one group of partly
trained men in a demobilized state
and another partly trained group in
camp, but nowhere would there be
an Army ready to defend the coun-
try. Those are the facts Of the mat
ter. and they cannot be successfully
disputed
The congressional opponents of
General Marshall's proposal do not
attempt to dispute the facts, how
ever, but offer as the sole justifica-
ton for their stand the contention
that it would be breach of con-
tract" to keep the men in service for
more than one year. That is Senti-
mental figure of speech that does not
hold water.
When the Selective Service Act,
providing for a twelve month period
of service, was passed. it was ex-
pressly provided in the law that the
time of service might be extended
whenever the Congress has declared
that the national interest is i'm
periled."
It is true that Congress has not so
declared, but it is also true that there
Is hardly man in either the Senate
or the House who does not believe
In fact, who does not know-that
the national interest actually is in
most imminent peril. If the members
of Congress do not believe that to
be the case. why have they voted for
the staggering sum of almost S44,-
900 1000 900 in authorizations and
appropriations for national defense?
Why are they preparing now to grant
the Presidents request of last week
for an additional $4,000 100000 for
the Army, Navy and Maritime Com
mission? And, if the Nation is not
imperiled, why retain the Selective
Service Act at all?
The point is too obvious to be
labored Congress is fully aware of
the peril, and it's every act of the
past year testifes to the gravity of
the peril.
If General Marshall's recommen-
dation should be defeated, Congress
would be in the paradoxical position
of spending billions upon billions of
dollars for guns and planes and
shells in the name of national de-
Tense while Wrecking the Army,
without which there can be no de-
fense. Surely we will not come to
that tragic pass and it is to our dis
credit as a Nation that we are even
seriously preparing to debate an issue
which can be prudently decided only
one way