Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-29

With the military occupation of North
Africa the United States becomes &C
tually engaged in total war. Heretofore
the phrase has often been gLbly used,
but seldom with any real appreciation
OF its full implications. These, as the
first year of our active participation
draws to close, must now be confront
ed squarely.
AS contrasted with naval and air OPP
erations Of a raiding character, the North
African campaign is major military
enterprise. AS such it demands for sue
cess an almost incredible quantity and
variety of materials. II is second front,
the ultimate success of which depends
as much on manufacture, accumulation
and transportation as on actual combat
efficiency. If the North African cam
paign is to lead on to victory expedi-
tionary force must be not merely greatly
augmented, but also continuously sup
piled.
Between easy talk of invading Ger
many through Italy or the Balkans and
actual accomplishment of such detectives
there is great gap which only stupen-
dous and intelligent endeavor can bridge.
In this effort the United States, and not
Great Britain or Russia, has the major
responsibility and must contribute the
larger share. AS by-product of that
contribution will come the transition to
total war, as actually rather than as
mere figure of speech.
The coming change in the American
way OF life, as yet only specifically af-
fected by the war, will have innumer-
able and often lamentable effects. But
they will all be consequences of two basic
increasing military demands there must
be much sharper step-up of war pro-
duction at the expense of civilian needs
and pleasures. And, also because of mil
itary demands, essential production in
the desired quantities will be increas-
ingly difficult to accomplish.
Organizing Talents Questioned.
To reconcile what is necessary with
what is possible will require kind and
degree, of governmental organization
Of which this country has heretofore had
no experience. And it will require, first
OF all, candid denomination Of the very
questionable assumption that the United
States has any magical talent for organ
ization of the sort imperative for the
waging of total war.
Because many private enterprises have
been conducted with admirable effici-
ency in this land of plenty it does not
for a moment follow that the compli-
Gated governmental operations necessary
for total war will automatically be sue
cessful. AS matter of fact, no other
great nation is as tolerant of gross gov
ernmental inefficiency as is the United
States. And in no other powerful coun-
try are there the same impediments to
effective centralized management as are
found under cur complicated Federal
system of allegedly sovereign States.
Aside from constitutional obstacles to
centralized war effort, the present ad-
mlnlstration is clearly averse to utilizing
some OF the organizing talent which is
available. Because of differences in po-
litical, social or economic viewpoint
many administrators of demonstrated
competence are still on the outside of
the. war effort. Their willingness to serve
is either ignored or, in certain outstand-
ing instances. has been deliberately
rebuffed. With the advent of total war
that reluctance to exploit available talent
may become very serious handicap for
the national effort.
Because executive ability is indispen-
sable for total war, and because the
civilian ability available is now only
sparingly used, we are as result wit
Messing a steady expansion of Army