Evening star., 1945-03-24
Letters to The Star
A Soldier in Germany Explains
His Views of Preparedness

To the Editor of The Star:
With your permission. I should like
to take time out for a few minutes to
voice my opinion on the issue Of post
war military training generally and at
the same time specifically answer letters
which have appeared in The Star and
the Overseas Edition of The Star oppos-
ing military training.
BY way of qualification, want to
establish the following facts: Cd I am
an inductee as of January l9, 1943. 90
My foreign service totals more than
year 90 am veteran of combat
Stated as simply as that, the facts are
service I have been deeply impressed
with the necessity of standard limited
regimentation of American men.
Three Points Argued.
In direct reply to three points arguing
the worthlessness of compulsory training
as set forth in recent letter:
% Granted: Some military skill or
knowledge gained from years train
Ing soon would be forgotten and would
have to be taught all over again in the
event of war, but only a portion of it,
and that part is of negligible impor-
tance. In explanation of this: Consider
the rapidity with which a war pro-
crosses, the speed with which peacetime
developments evolve, and, considering
these, think of the brevity of usefulness
of numerous weapons and implements
of war; consider the short time in which
they become obsolete. So, in truth, the
study of such weapons is of limited i'm
portance; their intricacies merely are
to be mastered and filed for future
reference. Have you taken into account
that some soldiers are withdrawn from
the line every day to be schooled in the
newer methods of warfare-a necessity
due to constant development of new
weapons and tactics?
On the other hand. these soldiers need
no instruction in discipline, sanitation,
nor in any other basic component Of
military life because once learned,
basics aren't forgotten. Thus it would
be in peacetime training; men would
learn the basic primary knowledge of
soldering and the greatest obstacle to
a rapid organization of fighting person.
mel would be surmounted.
90 am no dietitian, but I can testi-
fy that though they do not reach the
standards of Army food in the States,
even combat rations are thoroughly nu-
tritional, as evidence the consistent
good health of the average soldier.
Now, regarding morality: If a man
is inclined to keep bad company, the
Army necessarily will not stem the in
clination, nor will it, by any means, af-
ford increased opportunity to the man
for seeking such contacts. AS in civilian
life, the decision rests entirely with the
individual.
Then, as for cases of inadequate
clothing, heating and physical deterio-
ration through toughening processes, let
me say that I am not familiar with
single case: they are extreme to the
point of being negligible. The majority
of men subjected to military training are
benefited visibly, and that is neither pro-
paganda nor poppycock-merely testi-
monial.
AS for the danger of infections and
epidemics, consider this case at hand:
In my battery at one time highly con-
tagious meningitis struck down man;
immediate isolation and preventive
measures resulted in confinement of the
disease to the single individual, and,
after a short illness, in his return to
duty, health restored
go On the third and last point, con-
cerning the taxpayers burden OF sup
porting the clothing, feeding and edu-
cation of all the Nations men, let's
look at it as insurance. Isn't it better
to invest a small percentage annually,
insuring against holocaust which
might take toll in millions of lives as
we'll as dollars, than, suddenly and ILL
preparedly, to be confronted with war?
Valuable time was lost in preparing be-
latedly for the present conflict with
the result of thousands of lost lives
and millions of lost dollars. Do you,
as an American citizen, yet realize
how closely we came to defeat in 1941-
AZ, or the tremendous price we paid in
men and material due to lack of pre-
paredness? If not, read tragedy in the
faces of mother, wife. fatherless
child, and then weigh the balance: life
against death. security over invasion,
slavery against liberty, dollars over
American lives. It's your decision to
make, America.
The Globe Contracting.
In conclusion, allow me to bring out
this point: Every day, as We all know,
rapid communications and transport
are making the world grow smaller, and
we must strive for unity among nations
as we'll as between states, but as in a
city county, state, or federation of
states, we must keep in mind the ne
cessity of a strong police force. 1t abso-
lutely is essential that the United States
be able to play her part strongly in
the world of tomorrow. IsolationlSm is
a nightmare of the past. Today's dream
is tomorrow's federation of world ma
tions. But remember, if idealism is to
function properly, it must be welded
with realism, and realism in world
government includes recognition of
anti-social trends and their suppress
sion through means of an adequate in
ternational police force.
Will you, as world citizens, meet the
challenge, or will you allow the white
wooden crosses to serve only as bitter
reminders of another American folly?
PVT. WsR. TANNING, Jr.,
In Germany.