Evening star., 1942-10-13

Will not lose sS'%.
significance but David Lawrence.
rather gain because Of It.
The American Navy is fighting a
tough battle in the Pacific-10,000
miles away from the homeland and
against . navy that doesn't have to
divide its strength In Two oceans.
The price of the invasion of the
Solomons had to be paid to prevent
= southern march of the enemy
toward Australia and New Zealand
and toward our Pacific bases in the
southwest.
The President didn't refer to the
dangers that would be incurred in
attempting to land troops for an
operation In France IN what Is
known as a second 'front.'" but he
made it abundantly clear that he
and the other members OF our high
command are not going to be in
huenced by armchair strategists
or the clamor of those who are not
In possession Of the facts and who,
on account OF the censorship, can
not know those essential facts.
Expresses Confidence.
Notwithstanding the unfavorable
news announcement-sn it Is pre-
sumed that our hold in the
solomons is by no means absolutely
assured as yet-the President ex-
hibited confidence concerning the
whole military and naval outlook.
This note Of confidence is in con-
trast to the expressions of those in
oficial Washington who have felt
1t necessary to issue . scare about
our losing the war.
Mr.. Roosevelt chose instead to
breathe reinsurance, and the events
In Russia and the steady growth of
our air operations over Europe are
confirmation of the turn for the
better that the war, as . whole, has
taken for our side.
Perhaps the most important part
Of the Presidents speech was his
calm announcement to the Ameri-
can people that he wants legisla-
ton drafting the boys from 1S to
30 years OF age. He stressed the
Importance Of younger men in the
Army, Congress has committees al
ready at work on legislation and it
is probable that registration will be
begun before the end Of this year,
so that the younger men will be
called into service shortly after the
hrst of the year.
The decision to call the Is to 20
year olds means that manpower
estimates as they relate to the mar
ried men both with and without
children will have to be revised. If
the Army is to call the younger men,
then the married men doubtless will
be deferred, though already many
draft boards, because Of the unfair
quota system now In effect, have
summoned married men in some in
stances.
Advance Notice to Youths.
If married men are called in any
great numbers, 1t is probable that
age classifications will be made so
that the younger men are sum-
n1oned to service first. The draft
operation requires such large
amount Of time and work that the
President must have thought 1t de-
sirable to warn the public about the
plan to draft 1s to 40 year olds, so
as to enable them and their families
to make the necessary plans espe-
cially with respect to schools and
colleges. The problems of the latter
will begin to multiply the moment
the Government takes the 18 to 20
year olds.
The Presidents idea Of getting
high school boys and citizens gen.
orally to pitch in and help with the
harvest will be put to the test soon
but it is doubtful whether the So
luton of the farm labor problem is
going to be as simple as that. Pos
sibly when the new manpower legis-
lation is adopted-and 1t may be
enacted just after the election in
November-there will be revision
of the draft as it affects agricul-
ture.
It would be most unfortunate II
men had to be called back from the
Army to help care for the food sup
ply, Just as today men are being
called back from the Army In some
sections Of the country to help mine
certain needed metals. The Presi'
dent just gave the country a pre-
liminary view of the manpowel
problem in more or less gentle
terms. Before long the manpowel
problem will be the principal issue
before the country.
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