Evening star., 1945-04-04
Nv ELTON C. FAY and JOHN M. HIGHTOWER,
Associated Press Stan Writers.

Inc DlGgcSG morale pTODlcm Ol tIlc
whole war looms in this interlude
between victory in Europe and the
launching of the nnal offensive in
the Pacific.
Have Elaborate Program.
The Army hopes it has the an
swer to its own problem In an elab-
crate program. This program en-
braces training for the Pacific task
and travel, education and play be-
sides. It is tailored to fit troops.
The interest Of the Army, however,
must extend to the home front and
the men and women who make
munitions.
The task was easier Ut the time
Of Pearl Harbor. The Nation was
under attack. The national psy-
chology was . mixture Of fear and
anger and that gave 4 mighty i'm
petus to the war effort.
Now this Nation is almost three
and a half years deep in war. Some
troops and workers are perhaps a
little bored. Others are weary. AL
are concerned about resuming more
normal lives.
On top of all this, a great enemy
Germany-is about to be defeated
Many, perhaps most, OF the GIs
who have helped defeat the Ger
mans feel they have done their part
and should come home. Yet, tha
top Army men who are authority for
this and other articles in this series
are planning for Pacific war last
ing 18 months to two years after
Germany goes down.
Difficult Business.
The business Of telling the GIs
that most OF them aren't through
with the Army is going to be dim
cult.
The Army intends to move swiftly
Copies of its "reorientation" film
are ready for projection machines
Of every troop unit in Europe, to
be shown to the soldiers almost at
the moment they cease firing.
The printed word will follow in
the form most familiar to the GI-
the pocket-size pamphlet. Lectures
and round-table discussions win be
encouraged. (And these the GIs
don't like, having listened to them
for upward Of three years.
There is in this project, as in all
the others related to redeployment,
= nice matter Of timing. The re-
orientation can't be started too
soon. Commanders in Europe want
to keep the attention Of their men
riveted on beating Germany, until
that chore is done. Afterward,
however, there must be no time for
worry or uncertainty over the fu-
tne.
Not All to Get Furloughs.
Many thousands of soldiers will
spend several months in Europe and
then be started out directly for the
Pacific theater. They won't have
the lift of q furlough at home, and
they won't have the tension of
battle to help them forget all else.
Some will have to service and repair
weapons for the Pacific. The mill
tary duties of most will include only
the Army's housekeeping routine
and training.
So the Army has arranged what it
described as an educational and
recreational program" Directing
that program is Maj. Gen. Fred
erick H. Osborn, the Army's spe-
cialist on education and morale.
The men will be able to take
their pick of education-university
subjects, trade schools, historical
courses, mathematics. All will be
required to study something.
Stacked in warehouses here and
overseas are mountains Of textbooks
and material. Prerequisites for spe-
cific courses are drawn up. Instruc-
tions for company and division COM
manders to set up courses and as
sign teaching personnel are ready.
Theater commanders have been
given the authority to put the
schools in operation.
Tours Are Planned.
If the GI wants to travel, that,
too, will be arranged. Tours already
mapped are intended to show the
soldier a deal more of the Europe
he has been fighting in than what
he saw from q foxhole.
Does he want recreation? Gin the
Army they don't always ask YOU
they usually tell you.) Tons of sports
ony,Sy,y,, ant football to co.on 10 ~l~>k
ball-are stock piled for shipment to
Europe. Nor have checkers, chess
and table tennis equipment and
for amateur craftsmen been
forgotten.
The Nays situation is different
and better. 1t set UP its principal
place Of business IN the Pacific at
the start. Generally, it has no worry
about its men losing their fighting