The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-10-20

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: confine their international co-opera
ton to Britain and other Eastern
Hemisphere nations. We then would
lose our present great influence for
the good in world affairs, which would
of course, mean an end to our dream
of world peace through collective Sc
curity. Preparations for World War
III would then have to begin.
In any case, it should be obvious to
everyone that Roosevelt will be able
to get us more Russian aid to beat
Japan than any other American can.
The Russians are convinced that
Roosevelt is utterly opposed to Fas-
cism. He made his stand against
Fascism Enthusiastically clear to them
when he gave them Lend-Lease at a
time when it was politically danger
Gus for him to do so. Roosevelt, of
course, believed that Lend-Lease to
Russia would in the long. run save
American lives, and subsequent events
have proved he was absolutely cor
rect.)
One good reason for re-e1ecting
Roosevelt, which has hardly been
mentioned by our sources Of general
information, is that practically all, If
not actually every single one, of our
military and naval leaders, who are
now directing operations on all our
various fronts, will be changed if the
Republicans are elected in November.
New, untried leaders who do not have
the grasp of the military situation as
it exists on the fighting fronts, would
then take over these frontsi This
would cause discomfort and dissension
among our fighting men throughout
our entire vast military organization,
and greatly weaken our war effort
So far Roosevelt has removed only
two superior commanders, and we all
know what a tremendous stir that
has caused. Suppose all-or at least
many-of them were removed and de-
noted Disaster of the first magni-
tude would certainly result
But it is absolutely senseless to
believe that the Republicans would
not soon denote and shift most of our
leading commanders, should Dewey be
elected If the Republicans did not
make these changes the Democrats
would forever claim the credit for
picking the men who led our armed |
forces to the greatest victory in all |
our history. Because of the political
prestige involved the Republicans
would have to make these shifts so |
that they could claim the credit.
And no matter what Dewey may |
now say, he would have no choice
but to agree to these changes-for all |
of our present commanders owe their
positions directly to Roosevelt. 1t
just happens that Roosevelt took seri-
ously his title as Commander-in-C Chief,
and selected his war leaders. He is
the first president since Lincoln to do
this. Il served in the Navy under
Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge,
Hoover and F. d. Roosevelt, and l
know that the latter has taken more
interest in the Navy than all the
others combined)
Roosevelt Spent Money, Saved Lives
Some of Roosevelt's more vicious
accuse him of spending too
much money on the war effort. They
show in great detail how he has great
y increased the national debt during
he war. This method of attack on
Roosevelt does not go over big with
my of our men in the front battle
ines, for obviously the more money
pent on war machines, the fewer of !
will 10 in hot q
opponents fail to mention
he fact that the only possible way
o keep down the war debt is by limit
ng the quantity and quality of the
Weapons we send to our fighting men.
This war can be won only by the 3
acrifice of men and money but the /
1ore money we spend the less lives &
re will have to sacrifice. Converse ;.
Y, the less money we spend the more Z
yes we will have to sacrifice 1t is 3
S simple as that. OF course, Roose-
cit can save money, and keep down 3
lie war debit we force our men =
, fight with inexpensive Gnferior) 4
nd fewer weapons. But we must 4
Understand that the number of Amer y
an lives saved depends almost en- 4
rely on the quantity and quality of q
le fighting equipment our fighters g
'e supplied with. If they are given g
lie best possible (most expensive) e
luipment in great quantities, many 3
i'll live who otherwise would have to g
e. The latest models of bombing g
anes, tanks, and artillery are very g
weapons, but they do the g
ork which would otherwise have to b
done by mass infantry attacks, g
1ich are always costly in lives.
There is still very much hard fight z
g to be done before we can win this q
ir. We must not be mislead into {:
because our forces in g
lrope appear to have easy going. e
lie going is not easy. 1t is exceed &
ely hard for the men who are doing 3
o fighting, and they must have our
mplete support. This support can g
t be given them unless we retain :.
r present civil and military lead =
,.-From IN FACT e
(The opinions and assertions ex- q
'essed above are the private ones g
the writer and are not to be con- q
rued as official or reflecting the 4
ews of the Navy Department or q
@ naval service at large.) e.