Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-06
New West Points Now

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THE facilities of the United States Military Academy at
West Point should certainly be expanded to provide
additional officer personnel for the army Secretary of
War Stimson has urged in letter to Speaker Rayburn
of the House of Representatives
1.-THE present facilities of the academy should be
utilized 10 the maximum emergency capacity" said Mr.
Simson and he offered program increasing the strength
ef the West Point cadet corps from 1860 to 2496
This is a program which Congress should approve
without tail or delay.
In fact il is surprising that the total emergency
facilities of the West Point Academy and of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis have not been utilized heretofore
THE shortage of adequately trained officer personnel
i was acute long before the war and since the out
break of hosttes has become serious obstacle to the
development of combat army sufficient for the purposes
of the present conflict.
However there is no possibility that West Point and
Annapolis be expanded enough to meet the problem
however willing Congress may be to grant new facilities
Duplication of those facilities elsewhere in the nation
with erection of entirely training plants and Null
IMPLICATION of facilities instead of expansion, is
the obvious need.
And of course the place for training projects of
this nature is close possible to the zones
of warfare
THIS brings up once more the program long advocated
by the Hearst newspapers, for establishment of mill
tary and naval academies the Pacific Coast.
In previous advocacy of this program the emphasis
was on the PROBABILITY of in the Pacific.
Now simple speculation may be abandoned, for not
only actual progress throughout the vast Pacific
area but being waged the full length of American
West Coast and is the greatest in history and
the graves threat to our survival free nation;
Therefore these proposed West Coast academies have
become dire necessities amount of expansion in
existing facilities will staff fighting forces adequately
and further delay authorization and construction of
new plants will have proongation of the it's very
least penalty and possible loss of the potential
consequence.
7 LEGISLATION providing for military and naval
l. academies the Pacific Coast has been introduced
various sessions of Cnss and has had the endorse
nent of high military and naval authorities but has
had final approval
Senator Hiram Johnson of California has made many
ttemps to overcome the congressional inertia in this
important matter have Representatives Costello and
Toan of California
Bills introduced by these capable and foresighted
statesmen are still pending House and Senate commit
tees and require only favorable committee reports to
bring the issue the attention of the whole Congress
and there every to believe that final approval
awaits only that important first step.
The California delegation in Congress should not be
discouraged by its past failures to bring this vital matter
to conclusion, and should press it to final and
successful conclusion.
The peril of the country is recognized by all concerned
The extreme peril of army and navy, understafed
as the result Of inadequate officer training facilities is
attested by officers who know this situation best.
The Congress should no longer delay project so
closely related to national security and to victory in this