Evening star., 1942-12-20
Denies Danger of
Militory Coup
By OUen L. Scott.

The country Is being told that generals
and admirals have been trying to take
over the Government in Washington.
There is picture of struggle between
military and civilian officials for con-
troll over the Nations resources and man
power.
One day reports have it that 'the mill
| tary' is winning. The next day civilian
officials are reported to have the generals
and admirals on the run. An impression
is left that few officials and few MEM
bers of Congress are struggling against
odds to save the United States from a
military dictatorship.
| Actually, no such struggle has occur
| red or is occurring.
There are two issues of policy that
| have been under debate. Neither in
wolves an attempt by the military off,
| cials TO-" take over" Both are settled by
the normal working of our processes Of
government with civilians making final
decisions in every case.
One issue of policy concerned the size
of the Nations armed forces, particu-
larly the Army. The Army decided that
it needs 100000 men by the end of 1943.
That Is far cry from the 10000 COO or
| 100000 that some officials had said
the Army wanted. Even so there has
been and is an argument over whether
that number of men can be trained,
equipped and transported within any rea-
sonable time to take part in the present
war.
Army officials, however, point out that
OF the 100000 men, the intent is to
have 2,50000O in the air forces. That
leaves land Army of 5000, 600, of which
1000 900 will be in the service of supply,
with another large segment scattered
widely around the world to garrison out
posts. In the last war this country
transported overseas 1000 900 men and
planned to transport 100000. The
Army feels that it is unsafe to plan on a
basis any less ambitious than in 1918.
However, to make their point, the gen.
erals first had to convince Undersecre-
tary OF War Robert P. Patterson-a
civilian and anything but yes man
that an Army as large as they planned
could be provided with equipment. Then
they had to convince Secretary of War
Henry L. Stimson-another civilian-that
their plans were sound. After that they
had to convince President Roosevelt of
the same thing. This does not add up to
a military dictatorship.
The second issue of policy has con-
cerned control over the use of the Ma
tiop,e -, teri,I reeo,,rree itc ooatole r,,(
ber food and hbers.
Here again there appears to have
been distortion of fact The country
has been given a picture Of military Of
f1cials striving to take over. They have
been told that the War Production
Boards Donald Nelson came dashing up
in the nick of time to save the Nation
from military dominance. They also
have been told that the War Production
Board now controls military production,
SO that all Is well.
The facts seem to be somewhat differ
ent One fact is that the issue involved
in division of materials between military
and civilian uses always was expected to
be settled by civilian organization. A
second fact is that once the military Or
carnations have been allotted their ma
terials they and they alone control the
use of those materials from the point at
which weapons are designed to the point
at which those weapons are serviced in
the field.
Using the Army as an illustration the
way the division of materials works is
this:
The various branches of the Army pre-
pare estimates of their material needs
Those needs, after study and adjustment
by Undersecretary Patterson. a civilian,
are then submitted to the War Produc-
ton Board. This board too, has before
it the needs of the air forces. the Navy,
the Maritime Commission, the Lease
Lend Administration, the Civilian Supply
Administration. 1t is advised of the ma
terials that industry will be able to pro-
duce.
At this stage, the WPB sets about cut
ing up the material pie. 1t is supposed
to do its slicing on the basis of definite
pattern Of war strategy. Whether it has
that pattern or not is another matter
At any rate, c. E. Wilson, in charge of
WPB'S production division, in consulta-
tion with the services and with Ferdi-
nand Eberstadt, in charge of WPBs ma
terials division, decides how much steel
will be available for airplanes. how much
for guns, how much for civilian needs,
etc.
1t then is the task of Mr. Eberstadt-
and that is the really key WPB job-to
see that the materials are delivered ac-
cordIng to plan. The past breakdowns
in war production occurred in this field
before Mr. Eberstadt took over. He now
is making progress in Strengthening out
what had been chaotic situation
But, once the materials are divided. the
military officials take over so far as their
share goes. They take over, but they
must work through Mr.. Patterson, a
civilian.
Again Using the Army as an illustra-
ton. the Service of Supply let's contracts
to industry. 1t inspects industry while
the contracts are being filled. 1t ac-
cepts delivery on contracts. 1t controls
transportation of weapons to the field of
action. 1t services those weapons in ac-
ton and salvages them when they are
put out Of action. This is streamlined
operation from beginning to end without
interference by WPB or any other agency
after the materials are made available
There Is nothing in this situation to
suggest that "the military" is trying to
take over the United States.