Evening star., 1945-05-13
Biggest Of U. S. Armies
To Confront Jups
Observer Expects Peace in Pacific
To Be Won Next Year
BIZ OlUen L. Scott.

DS SVOll 4NCAt car
By O10en L. Scott.
One war is to call for an Army and
Navy almost as large as two wars have
required. That fact dashes many hopes
of men with long service and it raises
a number of questions.
| To carry on two wars, the United
State has had about 12,5000OO men
under arms. To fight one war it will
have about 10,50o,000 men under arms.
OF those 100000 will be in the Navy
and Marines and about 6,5oooOo In
the Army.
The result of this situation Is that
relatively few men are to be demobil-
lied in the months just ahead The
Navy and Marines plan no demobiliza-
ton. The Army intends to let out
approximately 100000 men. However,
in the Army are more than 100000
men who have served for years or
longer and more than 100000 of
these men who have served more than
4 years. Probably 100000 in the
| Navy and Marines have served longer
than years.
Only a portion of these men with
very long service can expect to be let
out of service before Japan is defeated.
Very few men with less than three
years of service can expect to be
demobilized.
Disappointment over the demobiliza-
tion outlook will be keen in millions
| of families. 1t is certain that Con-
gress will be under intense pressure
to force a more general demobiliza-
ton even if it requires higher level
of draft of new men to take the place
of veterans let out. Chances are, how
ever, that the military leaders will
| have their way
The reason for the relatively small
reduction in United States military
forces is this:
In Europe the United States supplied
an army of about 350o,00O men and
naval forces required to protect the
supply lines to those men. Russia con-
tributed the mass armies and Great
Britain provided siZable forces. The
Russians shouldered the principal task
In the Far East the task of defeating
Japan falls principally upon the United
States. The British have the job of
clearing the japanese from the South
west Pacific, from Burma, Sumatra.
Malaga, Java, Borneo and the smaller
islands There will be some British
naval forces aiding in operations around
japan itself. No help is counted upon
from the Russians, although they may
decide that they want to take a hand
in that war. The Russian price always
is high, and in this case the leaders in
the United States are not now in
mood to pay it on any bargaining basis
AS a result, this country plans to
put as many as 100000 Army and Air
Forces personnel into the Pacific. That
is 100000 more than have been in
Europe. The Navy will have the bulk
of its 100000 men, including 100000
Marines, in the Pacific. That adds
up to an immense operation-the great
est single military operation, in fact,
that this country ever has undertaken.
The reasoning that lies back of the
decision to operate on such large
scale is that it is better to put in the
full weight of this Nations power in a
try for quick decision than it is to let
the war drag. There is no time to train
and equip large Chinese forces. Rus
slams could be of much help but again
there would be a problem of supplying
Russian forces. The result is that the
United States is prepared to undertake
the task of reducing the japanese at
home pretty much through use of its
own strength.
just how long the japanese will be
willing to stand up under the force of
the attack that is to be aimed at them
is anybpdy's guess. All plans, of course,
are based upon long war. If the Jap
anese crack within a relatively few
months that would be taken as an
agreeable surprise.
The relatively small degree Of de-
mobilization that is to occur now that
the fighting in Europe is over is to sat-
isfy few people.
| ~Ao VAC POAA40 oS oVClI1 4O4
works out it will tend to releAse younger
men with long combat experience often
before older men with families and
with more difficult problems of adjust
ment from the war. Older men, men
with skills, men with families were
usually the last to get into the war and,
all things being equal, they apparently
are to be the last to get out.
That situation is to cause good deal
OF grumbling. There also is to be con-
tinuing concern on the part of many
individuals about the draft. 1t has been
the thought that 17-year -olds- s-becom-
ing-18 would fill replacement needs after
war in Europe was over. Military plans.
however, call for draft quotas higher
than the $4,000 month that could
come from this one source. The result is
that men up to age "a are not to be free
from concern over the draft.
1t may be that by bringing all of
this country's force to bear, Japan can
be defeated within the next year, even If
she does not surrender sooner. Plans are
based upon that expectation.
The Bruvest Bottle
This poem was composed by the late
Joaquin Miller in 1855 II is deem.d hv
The Star appropriate for Motberse T,,y