Evening star., 1941-07-12

Henry Mekmore. day, my 2 cents
worth of unauthoritative opinion
would be worthless.
But it has become obvious 10 me
that, with war raging all over the
world, people are eager for any sort
of information. 1t is impossible 10
pick up a paper or listen TO the radio
without reading or hearing the opin-
ion of long-range military second
guessers.
Here. on page 3, is Maj. Thing
amabob's criticism of Gen. Waveus
strategy in Egypt. There. on page Z,
and too close to the comics to be a
coincidence, is Capt. Something
or the Others Interpretation OF
Russias retreat At 11:l5, sand
Wiched in with a blurb' for the most
wonderful hand -softener of all time,
is the generals up-to-the-mlnuie
analysis of Mussolinis latest
thoughts. At Sis, just in time to
interfere with the reading of the
final National League scores, 1t. Col.
What's His Name outlines the plans
for the defense of Moscow.
The citizenry takes these second
guesses to heart, too. The fact that
they were made by gents in blue
suits. 1000 miles from anything
noisier than an automobile back
fire and no closer TO the battle line
than Gus the bartender, makes no
difference. Their words are de-
voured, just as if they knew lite
about what was going on.
As a sort of self-protection, 7 have
decided never again TO side-step a
war issue. From now on l am going
to act as authoritative as if l were
a recognized member of the war
councils of the nations Of the world.
/ I might just as well start with TIE
separate air force business.
At the moment, I don't feel that
this country should have separae
air force. 1t makes too much sense,
and a nation must be cautious in
imposing anything really sensible on
its leaders.
This is particularly true of demo-
cratic nations.
Through the years, democracles
have stored up a belief that sny
measure which its legislative
branches accept without question is
worthless. They feel that there
must be a Whacking bit Of pro-ing
and coming. Unless they get this
they consider the measure unim-
portant or that there has been rail-
roading. Nearly all of the sound
measures ever adopted in this coun-
try have been fought tooth and nail
by one class of legislators or the
other. 1t would almost seem that
this country measures a bills worth
by the number of names the gentle
man from this State calls the gentle
man from that State during its pas
sage.
NV point is that the question Of a
separate air force has not been
wrangled over enough to make the
passing of it wise. 1t it went through
now the country wouldn't be com
pletely satisfied and would feel that
the OF grease had been applied here
and there.
The fact that the country needs a
separate air force must not force US
to hasten the bills passing. We must
not hurry it along simply because
World War II has proved that the
air force, once a country cousin of
the other branches of warfare. is
now the head OF the family, and that
battleships and artillery and in
fantry depend on the plane for their
very existence.
No, let us take our time and debate
the subject from hell to breakfast.
Let us listen to every Army general
we have, and give him all the time
ne needs to explain how vital 1t is
that his power and authority not be
curtailed. Let us listen without pause
to every admiral who shudders at
the thought of improving our fight
ing force at the expense of his glory
Let us have in full detail the opin-
ions of cabinet officers who don t
want one horsepower of their power
taken away.
Then, when all have spoken let us
say. Nuts, boys" and give this
country a separate air force.
Thatll be about three years from
now, figure after enough speeches
have been made to satisfy every cit
izen from Seattle to Miami.
OF course, We may be so deep In
air raid shelters by that time that
we will have to appreciate some one
else's separate air force instead of
ours.
But, by golly, every man will have
spoken his piece.
Even if on the dead run.
Distributed by McNausht Syndicate. Inc