Evening star., 1943-06-29
The Political Mill
Civilian Defense and Postwar Military
Training Supported by Warren and Martin

Martin said, II have been a SOL
dier of this Republic and I have
observed the development of our
military policies. sincerely be-
lieve this country must depend
on its citizen soldiers in times of
great emergency. The people must
fight our wars. This is deep
rooted in the traditions of not
only America, but Of all English
speaking people. 1t has been SO
for thousand years"
Gov. Warren insisted civilian
defense must become militant
and integrated part of total war"
1T must" he said, constitute
the active mobilization of all
civilian forces OF America for
participation with our allies in a
life and death struggle to pre-
serve our freedom and to deter
mine the entire course of civiliza-
tion. 1t is no longer defense. 1t Is
offense. I would. start, therefore,
by calling it what it is-home
front mobilization or some other
term of like connotation."
Foresees Long War.
The California Governor said
he was one of those who believes
we are in for a long war. He re-
ferred particularly to the war
which must be won in the Pa
cifc. There has been too great
inclination, he said, to lay en-
phasis on civilian defense only
when the war news was adverse.
and to ease up when the news
was favorable.
Gov. Warren comments are OF
particular interest because Con-
eress is about 20 deal with the
appropriations for civilian defense
for the next fiscal year. In the
budget. it was recommended that
s5,70O,OOO be appropriated. The
House Appropriations Committee
and the House itself cut this to
$4,000 900. The Senate Committee
has the appropriation under con-
sideration.
The cut presumably was made
in civilian war services branch.
and not in the so-Called protec-
tive services-the air-raid warden
forces. etc. The elimination of
the war services branch, how
ever, would mean that a vast re-
cruiting service, for volunteers to
handle the var ration books,
volunteers for various salvage
drives, for airplene spoilers and
the like, would be eliminated. 1t
would mean the establishment of
a number of Individual recruiting
services, with resulting confusion.
Taken Seriously in West.
Gov. Warren said that in the
West, civilian defense had been
taken seriously-and it had done
good job.
Civilian defense is a peoples
movement" ne said. TT offers
greater variety Of opportunities
for self-eXpression in the war
effort than any other. 1t enables
us to rub shoulders with. neigh
bors in patriotic spirit of fell
lowship and common understand
ing, Properly organized and led,
it can be the greatest morale
builder we have.
1T is one of the few war actiV-
ties in which States and local
communities have been left to
their own devices and their own
judgment, based on their own
conscience, to do an important
job in the prosecution of the war.
1t is one OF the few Federal
agencies that has recognized the
necessity of a partnership be-
tween the three levels of govern
ment as we'll as between the three
coordinate branches of gov
ernment.
This agency. charged with the
problem of activating 100000
citizens for war activities, has
been satisfied to make the pat
tern, declare the policies and
leave the execution where it be-
longs-with the States and their
subdivisions.
wingers were too much for Chester
Davis, so he resigned, but Mr.. Roose-