The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-11
Democracy At War
BY ERWIN D. CANAAN

BY ERWIN D. CANAAN
This is necessarily a period of censorship
and secrecy, for very important security rea.
sons Were it not so, the story Of America
today would be almost too thrilling to be be-
leved. Last week this correspondent, togeth-
er with more than two score other editors
or publishers, was taken to five of the most
important and secretive military establish
ments of the United States. We are not per-
mitted to tell what we saw. But we can tell
you, with deepest conviction, that the typical
American traits which are being applied to
the task of winning the war are bearing ire
mendous fruit.
Two particular qualities shine out. One is
mechanical skill and technical aptitude the
sort of thing that produced Model and col
lege football The other quality is teachability
and leadership: the sort Of thing that our
people have shown in every great crisis in
our history.
| We very good at organization, and that
is one of the big things that war needs. For
a long time, this organization has been in
the blueprint stage Now it is in the field,
| it has been tested and perfected, and the
results are being taught to the millions
I have no hesitancy about telling American
mothers that their sons are being taught the
and with greater promise of success and
economy of losses than at any previous time
in history or in any other nation. Particularly,
it is possible to tell mothers that the officers
of this Army, from the top down, are more
modern, alert, efficient, democratic than any,
one would have predicted.
Last week I met generals in their sos.
also met countless colonies and majors and
captains in their 20's. There was no false
h hof11 fhoca ,nL 4Io;,
There was complete camaraderie, based on
self respect and efficiency. Another impor-
tant detail: last week I met one officer who
had been at KWajaletn, another recently re-
turned from Anzio another who had bombed
Berlin not long ago, another from Iceland
another from Tunisia, another from China
and India, etc. These men bring back the
problems of combat to the schools and the
laboratories Of the United States so that they
may be studied. They also bring back un-
paralleled experience and practical knowledge
to pass on to their brother officers who are
under training.
have also seen, but cannot discuss, meth
DDS OF teaching certain war skills which are
as far ahead of 1918 as 1918 was ahead of
the ox-cart. And that comparison would be
an understatement if applied to the tools of
war. Many of these tools, of course, were
not known or dreamt of in 1913 Now they
What we were shown in five crowded days
last week was but a tiny corner. l know
of the great things happening in the United
States these days. Our laboratories and fac
tories have produced big crop. Now their
output is in the training stage. Some of it
has gone overseas; more is on the way. The
whole story, when it can be told, will be
thrilling and inspiring. 1t will show how de-
mocracy, after a slow and inglorious start
with full LIZ
has turned its talents to this unpleasant prob
lem of war and mastered it. OF course the
war isn't won and the real test is ahead.
AS D-day approaches D-day means the
day of invasion) it can be said that our train
ing and equipment is extremely good. There
are, OF course, some gaps The problem of
invasion still remains a colossal one, and it
is automatic among military men that the
unexpected will surely happen. There will
be plenty of things that won't work out &C.
curding to schedule. But among these sur
prises, there will be pleasant ones for US.
| Three anecdotes, none containing military
secrets, may convey some of the quality of
this Army.
First: young captain was running bak-
cry with about 40 men, providing bread for
camp of 10000. Deeply impressed by his
efficiency and assembly-line technique, we
said: Where did you learn this business?"
"Oh" he said casually 81 was production
manager for a chain of bakeries in Ohio
In other words: this is an army of profession
ais, not professional army.
Second: We talked with paratrooper Off
Ger who had broken leg and not known
about it for 10 days, when it was accidentally
discovered and was virtually healed!
Third We heard of an officer teaching his
company of Texans to jump, who arranged a
date for their initial leap The night before, a
delegation waited upon him and said: 1--WE
are sorry, but our men refuse to jump at
900 feet They say they will not jump at more
than 200 feet
'Why! said the officer, their parachutes
won't open at 200 feet!"
"Oh," said the Texans "do we get para
chutes?"