The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-10-24
Truman On
Universal Training


President Truman, appearing before join
session Of Congress, made his bid for uni
versal military training on the ground that
II the United States is to be able to defend
its shores there would be something for every
male citizen to do and all young men between
seventeen. or when they graduate from high
school, and their twentieth year, should be
prepared for the task they are best fitted
for, whether in the armed services, ship yards
or war industries, the moment an emergency
might arise The war just closed demonstrat.
ed that warfare has reached such high
pitch that a nations entire manpower is es-
sential; and no matter what progress is made
in the development Of new weapons or new
methods of attack, no nation can hope to sur
vive that lacks thu. manpower capable Of turn.
ing back the enemy.
1t is the great air attack on Japan, he
noted, that made the use Of the atomic bomb
possible. We would have been powerless, even
though we had supply Of A-bombs in Ten.
nessee and New Mexico, to throw back the
Japanese at Pearl Harbor. Only by opening
the way for the bomb which fell on Hiro.
shima with the great fleet Of B-29's and their
fighter escort which gained control Of the
air over Japan, was it possible to use the
bomb.
Thus, the President argued, the manpower
Of the nation must be ready on call, if an.
nd H..
to make the nations manpower ready is to
train all young men, excepting those physical
ly unable for work Of any kind, in advance.
Universal training, as he defined it, is the
opposite Of Consumption. The training he pro-
poses is civilian training. It would not lose
its civilian status, save in a war emergency.
On the other hand CONSUMPTION is the induc-
ton OF men into the armed services when
war breaks out. Civilian trainees could not be
brought into any branch of the military es-
Establishment save by selective service, as in
World Wars / and II.
Mr.. Humans proposal is for compara.
lively small regular Army, Navy and Marine
Corps, with a greatly strengthened National
Guard and organized reserve for these three
services. These forces would be fortified by
general reserve composed Of all male citizens
Wao had received training. 1.-The general re-
serve" he said, would be available for rapid
mobilization in time Of emergency, but it
would have no obligation to serve, either in
this country or abroad unless and until called
to the service by Act Of Congress-
The President emphasized that the proposed
training would not be merely in drilling II
would be In all weapons and instruments of
modern warfare. Provision should be made
within the services to help trainees to i'm.
prove their education status. "Some part of
the training could be used" he added, ito
develop skills which would be useful in CT
villain life. Just as such skills have been de-.
Veloped during the present war;"
Waile the Presidents views have overcome
some of the prejudice against universal train.
ing, and taken the edge off some of the o.
position In circles which have held it would
be contrary to the American precedent, there
IS no assurance that Congress will pass the
legislation he seeks. Already, the echo of the
song that had some popularity when the first
draft was employed, II Didn't Raise MY Son
to be a Soldier" can be heard on clear NIGHTS
Whether Congress follows Mr.. Truman's
wishes or not, it is essential that this nation
do something to prevent being caught unpre-
pared again.