Evening star., 1942-10-13

President Roosevelt shown as he
are $500 of these Offices throughout
the Nation. They are the corner
grocery stores of our manpower sys-
tenn. This network of employment
Offices is prepared to advise every
citizen where his skills and labors
are needed most, and to refer him
to an employer who can utilize them
to best advantage in the war effort
Perhaps the most difficult phase
of the manpower problem is the
scarcity of farm labor. I have seer
many evidences of the fact, how.
ever, that the people are trying tc
meet it as well as possible.
In one community that I visited
a perishable crop was harvested by
turning out the whole of the high
school for three OF four days.
In another community of fruit
growers the usual Japanese labor
was not available; but when the
fruit ripened, the banker, the
butcher, the lawyer, the garage
man, the druggist, the local editor
and in fact every able-bodied man
and woman in the town, left Their
occupations and went out, gathered
the fruit, and sent it to market.
Every farmer in the land must
realize fully that his production is
part of war production, and that he
is regarded by the Nation as essen
tial to victory. The American peo-
pie expect him to keep his produc-
ton up, and even to increase 1t. We
will use every effort to help him te
get labor; but, at the same time
he and the people Of his community
must use ingenuity and cooperative
effort to produce crops, and live
stock and dairy products. - .-~ z
Every American Part
OF Selective Service.
1t may be that all OF our volunteer
effort-however we'll intentionec
and well administered-will moi
suffice to solve the problem. In that
case, we shall have to adopt new
legislation. If this Is necessary,
do not believe that the American
people will shrink from 1t.
In sense, every American, be.
cause of the privilege of his citizen.
ship, is part of the Selective
Service.
The Nation owes a debt of graft.
tude to the Selective Service Boards
The successful operation of the Sc.
lective Service System and the way
it has been accepted by the great
mass of our citizens give us con.
fidence that, If necessary, the same
principle could be used to solve any
manpower problem.
And I want also to say word o1
praise and thanks for the more
than 10 million people, all ovel
the country, who have volunteered
for the work of civilian defense-anc
who are working hard at it. They
are displaying unself1sh devotion ir
the patient performance of thei
often tiresome and always anony.
nous tasks. In doing this important
neighborly work they are helping tt
fortify our national unity and oul
real understanding of the fact tina
we are all involved in this war.
Naturally, on my trip I was mos
interested in watching the training
of our fighting forces.
All of our combat units that e,
overseas must consist of young
strong men who have had Thorough
training. A division that has al
average age of % or "a is a bette
/ fighting unit than one which has al
average age of 80 or "a. The NOR,
Of such troops we have in the field
the sooner the war will be won, ant
the smaller will be the cost il
casualties.
Lowering Age Important
In Speeding Victory.
Therefore, believe that 1t will b'
necessary to lower the presen
minimum age limit for Selectiv
Service from 20 years down to IL
We have learned how inevitable tha
is-and how important to tn
speeding up of victory.
I can very thoroughly understand
the feeling of all parents whose son.
have entered our armed forces.
have an appreciation of that feel.
ing-and so has my wife.
I want every father and ever,
mother who has a son In the servic.
to know-again, from what I have
seen with my own. eyes-that tn,
men IN the Army, Navy and Marin,
Corps are receiving today the bes,
possible training. equipment ant
medical care. And we will never fai
to provide for the spiritual needs o.
our officers and men under tn,
chaplains of our armed services.
Good training will save many
many lives in battle. The f1ighes
rate Of casualties is always suffered
by units comprised of inadequately
trained men.
We can be sure that the comba
units Of our Army and Navy arr
well NAMED, and well equipped, ant
well trained. Their effectiveness IL
action will depend upon the quality
Of their leadership, and upon tn,
wisdom Of the strategic plans OF
which all military operations ar,
based.
I can say one thing about ou
plans: They are not being decides
by the typewriter strategists who ex.
pound their views in the press or OF
the radio.
To Leave Plans Of War
To the Military Leaders.
One Of the greatest Of America,
soldiers, Robert +. Lee, once Re