Evening star., 1943-07-04
Wars Problems Are Too Big
For One Man, Mai. Eliot Says

critics as against the greed for power
of individuals or parties within the
state: the military institutions are
designed to safeguard the popular
liberties against dangers arising
from without the state.
The conditions Of total war de-
mand that when such outward dan
gers have to be met, individual
liberties must be held in partially
in allegiance, for the time being In
order that the resources of the
state may be organized for efiicient
fighting under unified command.
In so doing, an inflnity Of problems,
difficulties and frictions arise; and
it Is in finding The solution of these
problems. abating these difficulties
and reducing these frictions that
the present confusion in our admin
istration has its origin.
1t is no longer enough to say,
give all power to one man for a
certain period OF time, as the ancient
Romans used to do 1t is no longer
enough to seek out a Marlborough
who can be the chief minister of
state and the commander in chief
rolled into one. 1t is no longer
even enough to seek a Lincoln
Grant combination Of political
leader and soldier. The problems
are too complex, and the harnessing
Of all the resources of a great
country such as ours is too big a
Job for one man, or even for two
working in harmony.
Must Consider Public Opinion.
The solution must be sought with
IN the constitutional framework, and
with due allowance for the pressures
of partisan politics and inevitably
recurrent elections. The force of
public opinion must be taken into
account. 1t Is not enough to pro-
vide armed forces Of adequate size
and equipment, and to back them up
by production and transportation
facilities sufficient to keep them in
action on distant battlefronts.
There must be leadership as we'll:
leadership in the field, and leader
ship on the home front; leadership
which will win us military victories
and leadership which will uplft our
spirits and teach us to understand
the necessity for the sacrifices which
are the price Of victories.
That leadership must be such as
to command the support of all. It
must be impartial, courageous, and
en1cient. Above all, 1t must be the
leadership, not of regimented ma
ton marching In dumb obedience TO
the command OF master, but of
free people submitting voluntarily
to discipline in order that its free
dom may be preserved and that 1t
may resume at the earliest possible
moment its free ways of life.
Problems Still Unsolved.
These are the problems which con-
front us, as we seek to join together
In smooth-working machine of war
the military instruments by which
we project our power against our
enemies, and the political instru-
ments by which we govern our home
community and draw out its strength
to support our armed forces in the
field. We have not solved these
problems yet, and perhaps our great
est danger is inherent in that sad
admission.
This Independence Day is an ap-
propriate time for the sober taking
of thought as to our past failures
and our present confusions. They
are costly failures and expensive
confusions, for they are to be paid
for in the dearest coin we have
the blood of our bravest and best.
(copyrisht, 1943. N. Y. Tribune, Inc)