Evening star., 1945-10-23

ndditiOAlol tiulAlii4S VI oCA tiSC.
Such system as have outlined
would provide a democratic and efii-
cient military force. 1t would be a
constant bulwark in support of our
ideals of government. 1t would con-
stitute the backbone of defense
against any possible future act OF
aggression.
It has been suggested in some
quarters that there should be no uni
versal training until the shape of the
peace is better known, ana until the
military needs OF this country can be
estimated and our commitments un-
der the United Nations Organization
can be determined But it Is impos-
sible today to foresee the future. 1t
is difficult at any time to know ex-
actly what our responsibilities will
require in the way of force. We dc
know that If we are to have available
a force when needed, the time to
begin preparing is now.
Need Exists Today.
The need exists today-and must
be met today.
| If, at some later time, conditions
change, then the program can be re-
examined and revalued. At the
present time we have'the necessary
organization, the required camp in
stallations and the essential equip
ment and training grounds imme-
diately available, for use in train
ing program. Once we disband and
scatter this setup, it will be much
harder and more expensive to re-es-
tablish the necessary facilities.
The argument has been made that
compulsory training violates tradi-
tional American concepts of liberty
and democracy, and even that il
would endanger our system of gov
ernment by creating powerful
military caste. The purpose of the
program, however, is just the con-
trary. And it will have just the
contrary result The objective Ii
not to train professional soldiers. /,
is to train citizens, so that If anc
when the Congress should declare II
necessary for them to become sol.
diers, they could do so more quickly
and more efficiently. A large
trained reserve of peace loving citi.
zens would never go to war or en-
courage war, if it could be avoided
1t is no valid argument against
adopting universal training at thi'
time that there are now millions oi
trained veterans of this war. NJ
i minded person would suggesI
that we continue to rely indefinitely
upon these veterans. They have
earned the heartfelt gratitude of al
of us-and also they have earned
the right to return promptly tt
civilian life. We must now look tt
our younger men to constitute tht
new reserve military strength of oul
nation.
There are some who urge that the
development of rocket weapons ane
atomic bombs and other new weap.
ons idicates that scientific research
rather than universal training, is the
best way to safeguard our security
1t is true that, If we are to keel
ahead in military preparedness, con.
| tinuous research in science and new
weapons is essential That is why
in my message to the Congress oi
September urged that there bt
created a national research agency
one of whose major functions woulc
be to carry on fundamental military
research.
Must Explore New Fields.
1t Is true that there must be con.
tinuous exploration into new field.
of science in order to keep aheae
in the discovery and manufactur,
of new weapons. No matter wha
the cost, we cannot afford to fall be
hind in any of the new technique'
of war or in the development of nev
weapons of destruction.
/ Until we are sure that our peac,
machinery is functioning adequately
we must relentlessly preserve ou
superiority on land and sea and il
the air. Until that time, we mus
also make sure that by planning
and by actual production-we hav'
on hand at all times sufficien
weapons of the latest nature ant
design with which to repel any sud
den attack, and with which t
launch an effective counterattack,
That is the only way we can b
; sure-until we are sure that ther
, is another way.
f But research. new materials, an
. new weapons will never, by them
' selves, be sufficient to withstand
, powerful enemy. We must hay
! men trained to use these weapons
AS our armed forces become NOR
and more mechanical, and as the
use more and more complicate
G weapons, we must have an ever
, increasing number of trained mer
: Technological advances do not elm
. mate the need for men. They in
crease the need.
General of the Army George
Y Marshall, in his recent report to tn
J, Secretary of War, has made thi
S very clear. I quote from his report
4 "The number of men that wei
4 involved in the delivery of tn
atomic bomb on Hiroshima was tr,
o mendous. First, We had to have tt
e base in the Marianas from whic
n the plane took off. This first r,
: quired preliminary operations aero
- the vast Pacific, thousands of ship