Detroit evening times., 1945-10-16

VI 1OilbltSS NCilb hVNH W -
degrees on the youth draft pro-
posal of the Marshall report.
No one said much about il
but their private expressions
showed fresh enthusiasm for a
voluntary system.
A rising sentiment for modern
ization Of the National Guard
was evident, a method Mr. LTru-
man is reported to favor.
Not much progress has been
made on the bills 10 institute
new army and navy academies.
or 10 break the deadlock over the
Marshall May bill. but in the
debate on liberalization of serv-
ice pay. strong sentiment was
generated for a democratic way
of operating the future army,
Congress seems turning that
way.
THERE was nothing in the
= Marshall report to make
that tide stand still. The retir-
ing chief of staff, for instance,
said the principle he is advo-
eating is identical to that Of
coaching a football team 1t
is-precisely. But did you ever
hear of a football team which
was drafted away from its home
for year of service. on a fixed
pay. and required to play?
The democratic way in foot
ball as in all other matters has
been generally favored in this
country.
The coach seeks people who
want to play.
He picks those who want to
volunteer their talents.
BY that means he gets from
them the enthusiasm and CO.
operation necessary to operate
a successful football aggfega-
ton.
He thus generates energy and
spirit
If a man does not wish to
play a military or football
game he does not make a good
player.
He is a liability TO teamwork,
a malcontent who goes grudg-
ingly about his task, doing only
what is required by authority
he fears.
In war most young men want
to get in on the game.
In peacetine it means sacri-
fee of their chosen work. their
education. and a year of their
lives away from home and they
cannot see the need for IT, es-
pecially when untried demo-
cratic methods might furnish
the army all the strength
Marshall considers necessary.
THE democratic way Of main
l. tanning and training what
we need for the utmost eff
cheney will require thoughtful
attention OF military authori-
ties to work il out.
Democracy always requires
ingenuity to meet its prob
lens.
But it has not yet found one
II could not solve.
Even better news than this
was hidden in the paragraph
announcement that the Hill bill
to modernize the entire war de-
partment is 10 be taken up for
hearings next Wednesday.
1t had been buried so deep
by covert opposition and then
decorated by red tape by the
Joint chiefs Of staff that not
even the. President could get
the repoA recommending il, a
report made last April (see col
umns a few days back disclos-
ing the contents Of the report;
nv fire started under the COM
bined chiefs of staff seems TO
have made IL hot enough IN
Congress, If not among the sit
ting generalsD
Thus on two counts there are
signs of the cracking of the old
regime in the war department.
The fighting generals and
admirals in both services, and
the young men with new ideas,
are going to get a hearing for
their bill, and the youth draft
act is developing signs OF
senility.
7 FOUGHT nearlyay year
L against the youth draft
NV first analysis of its de-
fciencies was presented in this
space last September. when the
gears were all creased TO rush
il through. and no one whom
knew was interested in stop
ping II.
Hit il again and again AS the
Marshall May bill was de-
Ia,tod and Ia1ayad hut not until