The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-28
. Clapper

Coneeivsbk Could
Get Too Big
ny RAYMOND CLAPPER
II Is an interesting but not
very profitable argument. because
only the high command plus a
few top men in war agencies
have the combined information
to make a sound decision.
Can you decide by a public
argument how many tanks we
should have? Then how can a
public argument decide how many
soldiers we should have?
Actually all programs change
from time TO time. We have
slowed down on several items of
war equipment. Something else
became more important, or some
materials were short and we
needed to economic, or war ex-
perience showed tanks not as
useful as tank killers, for in
stance.
Ikeswise. there h no sa-
cred. fixed, magic number
for the size of the army.
Under Secretary Of War Pat
terson says II h vital TO have
$500. 900 men In the army by
Jan. 1, 1914. We now have
about $500. 900. Of whom 20
per cent, or 100000, are
overseas. Secretary Patterson
says.
But conditions over the next
year may require an up or down
in that Ia million, just as they
have changed production sched-
ules in the last year. At least
we hope the army Is going to do
It that way and not freeze in
spite of hell and high water on
any magic number.
We don't need more men than
we can send abroad--plus allow
ances for internal security, re-
placements and training cadres.
The army can have but one pur-
pose, to win the war as quickly
as possible. Or, as Lend-Lease
Administrator Settinius says, the
basic war strategy of the United
Nations is to combine all their
material and manpower re-
sources In such a way as viii
achieve the maximum possible
impact upon the enemy in the
shortest possible time.
The army cannot best serve
the purpose Of the quickest
victory by asking for more
men than Ii can use. thereby
wasting manpower that
might be more usefully en-
gagged In building escort ships
or growing food.
Neither can William LETTERS,
rubber administrator, best serve
the purpose of the quickest VIC
tory by insisting on priority for
all of his rubber program, regard
less of the delay this might cause
to escort ships or to high octane-
gasoline production. Rubber con-
servation measures are still
loose-as for instance rolling
huge inter-city buses on the best
rubber tires over routes Compel
ing with railroads, which could
handle the traffic If unnecessary
travel were reduced.
The only useful service that
the various committees Of con-
gress can perform in their several
Investigations of the size of the
army Is to double-check the
armys estimates and make sure
they stand up under all the ques-
tions that can be thrown against
them. Time would be saved if
congress could consolidate its
committees into one investiga-
ton. instead of the half dozen
which are now nibbling all over
the subject without really biting
It.
The size of the army must
be considered I'm connection
with how many men and how
much equipment we can send
abroad. Ii must be consider
ed In connection with our
food and war-production re-
quircments.
One-third of our tanks and
combat planes went to our Al
lies last year. Thus we are pro-
ducing and shipping for other
armies as well as our own. We
must produce food not only for
ourselves but for our Allies. We
are trying to increase food pro-
duction above last years record
and we are trying to do it with
less msnpower.
The size of the army can
not be determined independ-
emily of such other consider
atoms We count on con-
Eressionai Investigations, not
TO tell the army what IL must
decide, but TO be certain that
there Is complete clearance Of
information and that all con-