The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-04-16
Economic /. +. S.
4M9hAghA
National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

| At the present time, there are slight
more than 100000 men in the Amer
lean Army. There are 100000 more
men in the Navy, and about 100000 in
the Air Force. That marks an i'm
,mense change from a few years ago,
when the Army was down to around
| 100000 men, and the other military
las numbers are concerned. But the
change that will take place in the
future according to current plans, will
be infinitely greater-and will have an
Infinitely greater effect ON the normal
ways of the nation.
Top military men believe that the
Army will have to be increased TO
100000 men and perhaps still more
that the Navy will have personnel
of around 100000 that the Air
Force will also reach the 100000
mark. In short, if this war continues,
between 100000 and 13,OOO,OOO men
will be required for military service.
Not all of these men, by any means,
is a world of it's own, requiring every
kind of skill, talent, craft and profess
sion. For each man in the fighting
| lines, there must be several men be-
| hind the lines in the departments of
supply, communication, transport, etc.
The same thing is true of the Navy
and Air Force. But all of these men,
whether they serve with guns or with
tools, will be wearing uniforms, and
fall of them will be out of civilian life.
The reasons for planning so vast a
military establishment are obvious. We
must figure on a long war whose end
Twill be the actual land invasion of
Axis countries. All hope that will not
be necessary and that Germany and
Japan will collapse But it would be
the height of folly to plan on that. We
must, instead, plan on doing it the
hard way.
What will be the effect of this de
mand for manpower for the military
services?
First, it can be stated categorically
tll'iI tNtlS IIldI uIl'tI lollH Wltlloul
dependents, and without job which is
considered absolutely vital to the war
cffort, will be inductcd and soon.
Men who are physically unfit, of
course, will be eXceptions-but men
with relatively minor physical disabili-
ties will be taken, and placed in non
combat work.
Second, Congress will probably pass
Il measure providing for government
support of mems dependents. There
will be considerable debate over this,
ana Il great deal of argument concern
ing how much nopey should be pro
|vided But it is thought certain that a
law will eventually be approved. Then
> the millions of men in the 3-A claSSi-
fication will gradually be taken. The
j Selective Service Boards have recently
been rcclaSSifying men with wives who
are Self-supporting, changing them TO
the IA bracket.
Third the registration Of older men
| Cup to GD will give the government
exhaustive information concerning a
I'''''' wa VI 'ill'N'i N'i'i 10 wv
IOld for actual combat, but which can
be called upon for other necessary
IdulicS. These men, for example, could
Ibc used for farm labor, and for work
in war industries. They could release
younger men for the fighting forces.
If this war goes ON long enough, it is
considered inevitable that the govern
mcnt will decide where, when and for
how much pay you will work.
! Fourth, it is a definite possibility
THAT we will eventually classify and
IconScripl womanpower. That is already
being done on II volunteer basis, and
in time it may be done on an enforced
} IbaSiS. Women can drive ears, run ele-
IvatorS, serve as clerks in shops, per
form many operations in war industry,
land do Il thouSand-and-Onc other jobs
which are now being performed by men
the military forces need and want.
! What will be left for civilian pro-
ducion, civilian life?
\ The answer is clear: "The barcSt
minimum of what is needed If this
war lasts long enough, the drain on
lOur human resources will be as great
las in Germany, England, Japan, or
IanNWhcre else The home fires will be
kept burning by women, by men who
larc unfit for military service, and by
)lold men. Then, when the war is over,
: the vast job will start of recStabliShing
life on Il peaCelime basis. In the mean
thine, any man in good health who is
not beyond the registration age limits,
lSlould be prepared for sudden diSrup-
tion of his economic, social and do
) mcStic life. This war is being fought
) for keeps" and all the wealth of the
nation, human and material alike, is
: dedicated to winning It,
II X 4 4
/ This country is at last winning 1.-THE
battle of productions" We haven't lived
!, Iup To all our hopes and forecasts. But
1.-THE Instruments of war are rolling out
|of the plants in a steadily gaining
stream. That stream will soon reach
: flood proportions.
| inh j. 10 >,si,, hntt !.