Evening star., 1945-10-23
Continued From First Page.)

conditions OF modern war to de-
velop that latent strength into
the necessary fighting force.
Never again can we count on the
luxury of time with which to arm
ourselves. In any future war the
heart Of the United States would
be the enemy's first taget. Our
geographical security is now gone
gone with the advent of the robot
bomb, the rocket, aircraft carriers
and modern airborne armies.
The surest guaranty that no ma
tion will dare again to attack us
is to remain strong in the only kind
of strength an aggressor can under
stand-military power.
To preserve the strength of our
Nation, the alternative before us
is clear. We can maintain a large
standing Army, Navy and Air Force.
Or we can rely upon a compare
lively small Regular Army, Navy
and Air Force, supported by we'll
trained citizens, who in time of
emergency could be quickly mobi-
lized.
Recommends Training Citizens.
I recommend the second course
that we depend for our security
upon comparatively small profes-
sional armed forces, reinforced by a
well-trained and effectively organ
ized citizen reserve. The backbone
of our military force should be the
trained citizen who is first and fore
most civilian. and who becomes
soldier or a sailor only in time OF
danger-and only when the Con-
gress considers it necessary. This
plan is obviously the more practical
and economical. 1t conforms more
closely to long-standing American
tradition.
In such a system, however, the
citizen reserve must be a trained
reserve. We can meet the need fol-
a trained reserve in only one way
by universal training
Modern war is fought by experts
from the atomic scientist in hi.
laboratory to the fighting man witt
his intricate modern weapons. Tht
day of the minute man who spranf
to the flintlock hanging on his wal
is over. Now it takes many month.
for men to become skilled in elec.
tronics, aeronautics, ballistics, me.
teorology and all the other science.
of modern war. If another nationa
emergency should come. there woule
be no time for this complicated
training. Men must be trained ir
advance.
The sooner we can bring the max
imum number of trained men into
service the sooner will be the VIC
tory and the less tragic the cost
Universal training is the only
means by which we can be pre-
pared right at the start to throw
our great energy and our tremen-
dous force into the battle, After
two terrible experiences in one gen.
Grafton, we have learned that this is
the way-the only way-to save hu-
man lives and material resources.
The Importance of universal train
ing has already been recognized by
the Congress, and the Congress has
wisely taken the initiative in this
program
i The Select Committee of the
House of Representatives on Post
war Military Policy has organized
hearings and has heard extended
testimony from representatives o.
churches and schools, labor unions
veterans organizations, the armed
services and many other groups
After careful consideration the com
mittee has approved the broad pol
icy of universal military training
for the critical years ahead. I con
cur in that conclusion and strongl.
urge the Congress to adopt it.
Must Not Forget Bataan.
In the present hour of triumph
we must not forget our anguish
during the days of Bataan. w
must not forget the anxiety of tn
DAYS of Guadalcanal. In our de
sire to leave the tragedy of wa
behind us we must not make tn
l same mistake that we made afte
the first World War when We quick
; ly sank back into helplessneSs.
1 l recommend that we create
5 postwar military organization whic
will contain the following basi
elements:
First, a comparatively small Reg
n ular Army, Navy and Marine Corp'
S Second, a greatly strengthene
n National Guard and Organized Re
: serve for the Army, Navy and Ma
= rine Corps
: Third, a general reserve compose
!, of all the male citizens of the Unite
n States who have received training
The General Reserve would b
d available for rapid mobilization i
e time of emergency, but it woul
q have no obligation to serve, eithe
in this country or abroad, unles
r and until called to the service by a
a act of the Congress.
= In order to provide this Genera
Reserve, I recommend to the Con
S gress the adoption of plan fc
= universal military training.
r, Universal military training is ne
n CONSUMPTION. The opponents {
g training have labeled it conscir
It ton, and by so doing, have confuse
t the minds of some of our citizen
o Transcription" is compulsory sers
= ice in the Army or Navy in time {
peace or war. Trainees under tn
r proposed legislation, however, woul