Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-09-28
UniversaIMiIitary Training

Universal Military Training
THE newly-elected national commander of the Amer
can Legion, Warren Atherton Of San Francisco
endorsed program of universal military training in
peacetme as one Of the first official acts of his admins
tration,
Tins alone proves the wisdom Of his election by the
Legion
As Commander Athcrton said Immediately after his
induction.
we have been precipitated into two world
because the enemy has underestimate the strength of
the United States"
Universal military training is unquesuonably the
surest way TO prevent war
1t is the ONLY way open to democracy
THE democratic and foresighed Swiss people have
demonstrated these vital facts to their great advan-
tage the period of spanning two world wars
The democratic but less foresighted American people
have demonstrated the facts, but unfortunately
their tragic disadvantage
Switzerland trained its youth for national defense
and kept OUT Of
The United States failed to do this essential thing
and became involved IN the two greatest in history
SWITZERLAND although small in size and population
y had powerful citizen army available for instant CALL
and respected.
The United States although one of the biggest ma
tpns the world in point of size and population,
almost totally unpepared Tor war and was tnus held IN
contempt
There never would have been Pearl Harbor' to
remember if the United States had adopted the demo-
cratic Swiss system following the first world
late 10 or five years before the present
Probably there would have been Munich"
WARSAW, or Coventry.
OF course the aggressive Axis powers did not take
the United States into account when they weighed their
chances of in a world war, because they
had 10 m al
only impotent and obsolete air force and navy
inadequate for defense of vital possessions-as
the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor painfully proved
THE United States had provided itself with trained
i military of millions of citizens qualified for
effective defense of the nation may be the Axis
powers would have weighed that fact against their
chances-and in all probability would have been persuaded
against they would obviously lose.
That is what Switzerland did although Switzerland
Of course too small to prevent world war.
However Switzerland was powerful enough to be left
very respectfully alone throughout the entire first world
and thus far in the second world
This was accomplished by the simple and sound
policy of making it the patriotic duty and requirement of
every Swiss citizen upon attainment of certain age to
undergo sufficient period of military training to be
competent soldier.
Thereafter throughout the active years Of each Swiss
citizen he is held liable for advanced instruction and
refresher which keep the deenses of Swtzer
land modern and efficient
THE United States SHOULD have taken example from
l the Swiss long ago and thus avoided war.
Since the United States did not do So and thus
involved in two terrible for which it pre-
pared, there be changing of that record
But the United States and certainly should avail
itself of its opportunities to avoid FUTURE That
is what Commander Anterior had in mind in advocating
universal military training
1t is what the Hearst newspapers have earnestly and
persstenty urged for many years 1t is postwar pro-
gram FOR AMERICANS and for the safety and security
of America and for the peace and prosperity of the
American people, henceforth
Commander Atherton begins his administration
under good auspices The American Legion has always
had capable and patriotic national commanders and it is
to be commended for keeping that long line unbroken
- W. ~