Evening star., 1945-01-21
Pushing Both Wars
Means Sacrifices
Observer Explains Why Civilians
Must Tighten Belts in 1945
By Owen L. Scott.


By O,Den L. Scott.
There is to be no slowing down in
movement Of men and materiel to the
Pacific theater as result Of new war
demands in Europe. Instead, this coun-
try Is to meet increased demands in
Europe by stepping up production Of
materiel and by drafting larger num-
Der of men.
That is the reason for the growing
squeeze on civilians at home. Rather
than slow down one war to meet the
increased demands of the other, the
Government will strive to stepup the
overall effort. To do this 1t must find
100000 men for the Army and Navy
by July /, and must add 100000 to the
number of workers in war industry.
Even SO, however, the war against
Japan will fall somewhat behind the
1945 schedule That is because the
planners expected war in Europe to end
in 1914. That would have permitted a
shift of men and materiel out of Europe
to the Pacific, to be added to the flow
of men and materiel scheduled directly
liOIu OJdteS.
So long as both wars go on, this
country will allot about so per cent of
its military power to the war in Europe
and about 40 per cent against Japan.
That approximate division has prevailed
during the past two years. 1t is likely
to prevail in 1945 until Germany is de-
feated. Because of it, both of this
cn,Intrutc r,t1chad I,oc cb
corner. If less effort had been made
in the Pacific, the Japanese today still
would be adding to their strength by
exploiting their conquered empire,
whereas now they actually are cut of
from that empire and are in peculiarly
weak position.
The argument is heard that this
country made serious mistake In 60
| ing ahead with both wars at the same
time instead of concentrating on the
European war alone. The contention
is that Gen. Eisenhower found him
self short-handed and without the sup
plies he needed on the western front
due to men and supplies sent in too
great volume to the Pacific.
Facts of the situation lend very lit
tie support to this kind of argument.
Gen. Eisenhower In Europe faced
problem of transport, not of manpower
or supply shortage as such. Very large
numbers of ships loaded with supplies
were unable to unload in France be-
cause port facilities, until recently,
were lacking in the scale required.
Added millions of men or added mil
lions of tons of supplies would have
be brought together at the battlefront.
The bottleneck was at the ports.
This bottleneck now is being broken.
Men and materiel piled up back Of
the front, in England and at sea, can
be moved into position for 1945 spring
offensive At the same time, materiel
will be moved to France to be used
in equipping French Army that can
be of help If the war lasts long enough.
Immense American power will be CEN
tered on Europe as the men and sup
plies backed up. in this country and
in England are moved toward the front
| in France.
Yet, another large segment of that
American power will be centered in the
| Pacific as well Men and nateriel
will move on schedule to that part OF
| the world so that Japan will not have
a chance to regain her balance or pre-
pare for counterblows. The Pacific op-
erations will suffer somewhat from the
delay in shifting forces from Europe.
This delay may last six months and
therefore force climax of the Japanese
war over to 1916 instead Of last half of
1945
If another policy had been followed,
and the japanese war permitted>to lag
while everything was concentrated in
Europe, there would have been a whole
long -drawn-out war to fight in the
Pacific after the end of hostilities in
Europe AS it is, the end Of japan Is
unlikely to be delayed more than q
year after the end of the war against
Germany Too, 1t may come much
sooner than that.
AL signs now suggest that the military
and political decisions made by the top
leaders of this country dividing Aneri-
| can StTeugtu petWetu Tie TWO wars
were very wise decisions.
To implement those decisions, how
ever, 1t is going to be necessary for
civilians to tighten their belts in the
months just ahead. Civilians must ex-
pect military demands for men and
materiel will force some new sacri-
fees. Industries cIassed as nonessen-
tial probably will have to give up some
Of their workers. Men up to the age
of 80 will nearly all be drawn into mill
tary service, If physically fit. There will
be a further pinch in supplies of many
kinds. 1t will be necessary to be pre-
pared for large casualties in the Euro
pean offensives. 1t had been hoped it
could have been avoided.
Yet it is doubtful if living standards,
on the average, will be pressed below
the prewar level
War developments in 1945 will reveal
more strikingly than ever the amazing
strength Of this country. Two major
wars will be forced toward a climax.
both with large proportion OF Ameri-
can men and materiel, while at the
same time people at home are pro-
vided with boom level of goods and
services
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