Evening star., 1943-09-21
Legionnoires
Continued From First Page.)

hope will bring this conflict to an
early conclusion.
But please remember that this
phase Is just about to begin, point
which seems not to be understood
by our people here at home, pos
sibly because they are far removed
from the agonies of war except for
those whose sons or husbands have
been engaged in the fighting"
Gen. Marshall said he found him.
self lin curious state of mind"
over suggestions that perhaps the
Army had acquired more than it
needed of some types Of war goods.
For three years or more" he said,
1T has been a daily struggle of
striving to meet the demands with
out the available means. There has
been the constant problem Of weigh
ing the priorities of this theatey
against that one, of sending men to
the front for whom training am
nutrition has been lacking or similar
deficiencies.
Now find myself in the position
Of being questioned, If not investi-
gated, for having too much of some
thing or other. dent know yet
exactly what this excess is, but do
know that I am profoundly grateful
that for once in the history of the
United States there is suggested the
possibility that we may have too
much of something or other with
which to support our armies
Preparations have been made in
North Africa and Sicily, and are
about to be made in Italy. for the
support OF huge ground and air
forces, said Gen. Marshall, and for
long time similar preparations have
been under way in Great Britain
and the Pacific.
The Mediterranean success will
release great naval forces for the
war against Japan, he said, and this
means advance planning for bases
from which the ships can operate.
I'VE are similarly engaged in plan
ming regarding other forces, par
ticularly air." he said, "and 1t will
probably interest you as much as
it will discourage the Japanese to
learn that our most difficult prob
lem is to find sufficient bases from
which to operate the vast forces
which are to be poured into the
Pacific for the rearrangement of
the affairs Of the. Son of Heaven
with his military clique. -
Must Proceed Carefully.
But I would add that these
matters are not the affair of a
moment, the result of a campaign
OF propaganda. or of temporary
enthusiasms or special interests.
I'VE must proceed in the most
businesslike manner possible to
make this war so terrible to the
enemy, so overwhelming in char
acter, that never again can a small
group of dictators find a sufficient
following to destroy the peaceful
security of a civilized world"
The President, in his message,
said:
1T is with sincere regret that 1
have to forego the hope I had en-
tertained of attending in person the
twenty-f1fth annual convention of
the American Legion. But in these
grave times all of our actions are
determined by the unexpected de-
mands of the day and hour and per-
sonal preferences must give way
to the larger and sterner exigencies
of all out war.
Warns Against Relaxing.
Had been privileged to address
the convention should have empha-
sized the thought that nothing can
help our enemies more than for
us to relax our efforts of all kinds
in the prosecution of the war. In
many phases of the national pro-
gram there is need for an increased
rather than lessened effort. Every
American has a duty to himself
as we'll as to his country, in in
creasing his effort in the war job
he has, or in getting into a war
job If he hasn't already done so.
"In certain fields, particularly
where the need might not at the
moment look large but where we
shall not have time to prepare
should the actuality arise, increased
effort and awareness are needed.
Civilian defense is an example of
this sort of latent need. We don't
wait until the house catches fire
to be sure that our community has
an up-to-date active fire depart
ment.
Il am therefore glad to learn that
the American Legion from motives
of the highest patriotism and in &C
cord with its tradition Is taking the
lead with the America alert pro-
gram which l understand is being
made the major theme of your con-
vention.
McNutt Speaks.
"Legionnaires know at first hand
the fact of the enemy. They can
and they should carry to all of our
fellow citizens the message that the
end of the war is not in sight until
unconditional surrender has become
a reality"
Before Gen. Marshall spoke, |
Mr.. Waring and Paul V. McNutt,
War Manpower Commissioner.
joined in telling delegates that only
by summoning the full strength of |
America will the war result in a
complete victory for the United Ma
tions on the battlefield and at the
peace table.
In report of his activities as
national commander during the last |
year, prepared for delivery to the |
Legion, Mr.. Waring declared that
the Legion must not only recommit |
itself to its present wartime man
dates but also must consider plans |