The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-09-27
Washington Digest
Draft Touchy Issue
For Nations Po|itiCoes
Fear Strong Reaction Against Military
Service Even as Occupation Needs Point
Up Requirement for Large Army.
BY BAUKHAGE
Nesus ANALYST and Commentator.

By BAU
Nesus analyst a
WNU Service. 1916 Eye Street NV,
Washington, d. C.
One Of the administrations hottest
political potatoes is matter that
nobody likes to talk about-even the
opposition. 1t is military service. Not
universal military service next
month or next year but any old kind
Of military service today and tomor-
row. right up to election day. 1913.
The problem has many facets but
it has one. awesome nub - the vet
eran vote. There are several danger
signals which the Democratic ad-
ministration is watching with some
trepidation: the criticism over con-
tinuation Of the draft which the
President has given his complete
and unqualified support; recurring
complaints Of discontinued soldiers
and their families appearing in ra-
dio, congressional, national commit
tee and other Washington fan mail.
which add up to a resounding de-
mand for more and quicker dis
charges. and finally, a growing fear
that the feeling which used to be
called isolationism is cropping up in
a new -''anti-militarism.'
The administration doesn't dare
make any move to permit drastic
reduction in the armed forces now
Military experts think it will be the
middle of October before any such
move can be contemplated. By that
time they think the danger Of any
serious outbreak in Japan will be
over. or there will be evidence that
one is coming.
AWait Jap Reaction
To Occupation
The full impact of the occupation
Of Japan will not be felt until
American soldiers are deep in the
heart Of the country. Before that.
the reaction Of the Japanese people
and the influence of the military
leaders as opposed to the influence
Of the emperor. cannot be gagged.
Suffice it to say that the surrender
terms as well as the surrender it.
self came as shock to the Japa-
nese people.
Many Americans fail to realize
that a relatively small American
army landed in Japan in an area
in which there were no Japanese
except those permitted to be there
by the authorities who arranged the
surrender. There was no contact
with the general population or the
military. Scattered over the rest Of
the country is a powerful Japanese
army. as yet fully armed, in defense
positions, strengthened when the
Japs completely reorganized their
home defense against invasion
after the capture of Okinawa. Dis
regarding the thousands of jap
anese sailors now on shore. the air
force. the supply troops and others,
it is known that on Hokkaido there
were two full divisions. "a Jap divi-
sion is between $1,000 and 10000
men, On Honshu there were "A
divisions and brigades "a brigade
is roughly half a division). On Kyu.
shu IA divisions and 7 brigades.
It is estimated that we would have
100000 men in the islands by the
middle Of September. That is
against a Japanese army (not count
ing the sailors. airmen and others)
of well over a million. That is why
there can be no sharp reduction in
American troops until we know
what, if anything. is cooking under
the cherry trees.
And then when that question is
answered we have the question Of
occupation. 1t has been estimated
that to police Germany. Japan
and Korea and perhaps parts Of
China will take 1.200.0 900 men.
Where will they come from?
Where will 100000 come from for
that matter? Already a sharp re-
version against military service has
begun and if it follows the curve
after the last war recruitment on a
basis Of voluntary enlistment is
hopeless. At its low point the army
after World War I numbered $780,
900 men. I well recall the story of
one of my officer friends whose regi-
ment, stationed in the middle west.
dropped so low that men themselves
voted to spend their post exchange
funds for recruiting campaign.
With band and a company he
paraded the countryside for week.
He got just three recruits and two
of those were rejected as physically
unfit.
AS one officer remarked bitterly to
me: How are you going to get
man to join the army for $21
month (the basic peacetime pav)