Evening star., 1945-09-09
Intelligence Force Held
More Vital Than Big Army
Atomic Bomb Points to Need for Scientific
Research to Perfect and Offset New Weapons
Infantry Likened to Archers
By Constantine Brozcu

ment of at least 1,500000 men provide
for the future security of
the United States, as the Army chiefs
are advocating today, or will this
country be better served by the estab-
lishment of adequate scientific research
and the organization of a
first-class intelligence service, as some
members of Congress believe today?
This problem will be debated in open
and executive sessions of both houses of
Congress soon after its members recon-
vene this month.
The Army general staff is convinced
that we shall be really secure only after
we have established a national con-
scription act compelling Americas youth
to serve in the armed forces for at least
IL months. Many of the general staff
officers point out that even if we had
not been surprised at Pearl Harbor any
of our enemies could have attacked
other points of the United States, either
in the West or in the East, without our
being able to offer much of resistance.
All during the critical period between
1889 when the World War broke out
and December 7, 1941, the United States
was lamentably unprepared militarily
and morally for war
The first draft bill of 1910 brought
into the Army some 100000 young men
who were wasting their time drilling
with wooden rifles and machine guns.
On commercial trucks, the word tank
was painted to indicate that they were
deadly instruments of destruction. The
men were reluctant to undergo military
service. They found discrimination in
the fact that others were left home to
continue business as usual" In any
event, as our general staff officers point
out, the draft bill was passed only be-
cause of President Roosevelt's enormous
prestige. Under any other Chief Execu-
tive the chances of getting even that
small force together would have been
very slim.
Would Provide Reserve.
The Nation needs to be militarily edu-
Gated in the future, according to our
generals, and a national CONSUMPTION
act. making it compulsory for young
men between the age of 18 and 10 to
serve for one year in the Nations mill
tary forces would not only give this
country permanent Army of about l.
100000 to $500 900 men but would also
provide trained reserves who could be
called to the colors whenever an emer-
genoy arose.
In support of this thesis the general
staff points out that the American peo-
pie have voluntarily undertaken grave
responsibilities for the policing of the
world, under the San Francisco Charter
and they will not be able to welsh on
these obligations. Moreover, they say, all
of the other countries, with the excep-
ton of the defeated nations, show no in
chnation to reduce their military estab-
ishments. Russia has just ordered that
all young men, from the age of Is up
ward, be given full military instruction
This will considerably strengthen the
Red Army which has had for many
years now compulsory military service
The same thing applies to the Eastern
European nations such as Czechoslo-
vakia, Poland and Yugoslavia which
have full offensive defensive alliances
with Moscow and whose armies are
trained by Russian military instructors
France has the same old compulsory
military service it has had for more
than century and Italy is expected te
reinstate that institution soon after g
peace treaty has been signed with the
Allies. China will not be left behind
GeneraliSsimo Chang intends to re.
organize and modernize his forces with
the assistance of American war materia
and with the help of American generals
who are now under his orders.
Atomic Bomb Revolutionizes War.
Unless Congress brings out nationa
conscription act, as already urged b!
the general staff, we may find ourselves
according to Army spokesman in a dif.
ficult position as soon as another emer.
gency arises.
For the time being the Army has moi
been able to sell this thought to any
of the more important members of the
Military Affairs Committee of either
the Senate or the House.
The advent of the atomic bomb has
in the opinion of these men, completely
revolutionized the war as far as America
is concerned.
The countries in Europe and in the
Far East have problems which art
different from our own. They are al
faced with internal troubles which may
have to be suppressed by force but which
will not justify the use of such violent
measure as the atomic bomb, the secre,
Of which will unquestionably become
known to all nations in the world within
the next few years.
In order to make America safe agains
any future national catasprophe, those
who are unwilling to indorse the mill.
tary point of view say that America.
safety can be guaranteed by two fac.
tors: The establishment of extensive
and well-equipped laboratories wher,
the best and most skilled scientists will
be employed to devote all their time t.
the study Of the new development!
which will follow the discovery of tn.
smashing of the atom and the organiza
ton of an effective and efficient intel
Hgence service which will be able tt
keep the heads Of our national defens,
fully informed of all the new develop
ments in the military, economic and
particularly. in the scientific field il
every country abroad.
Likened to Archers.
The opposition to national com
pulsory military service does not stem