Evening star., 1945-07-01
u. S. Armed Personnel
Sought for Postwar Era
Observer Reviews Needs of Men
to Keep the Peace
BIZ OMEN L. Scott.

By OtCen L.. ScOtt.
This country Is running into prob
lem for which nobody appears to have
ready solution. That problem Is one
of building and maintaining peace
time military establishment OF 100000
or more men.
There seems to be agreement that a
force of such size will be needed for
the role that the United States win be
expected to fulfil as the worlds leading
power. New bases must be maintained.
There will have to be contingent of
air and naval power available to the
new League Of Nations. AS the richest
nation in the world, with no other ma
ton ready to protect those riches for
her, the United States win have to
maintain forces adequate for the situ-
alton.
Adequate forces are being described
as follows:
A postwar Navy of 100000 men and
officers is talked about officially. This
is about four times the size of the pre-
war Navy in terms OF personnel. It is
to man an active feet of Is battleships,
rs large aircraft carriers and 300 cruis-
ers and destroyers that viii serve as
this country's first line of defense. Much
OF the wartime feet will be maintained
in standby condition.
An air force of 100000 men is under
consideration for the postwar period.
This is large force. but 1t Is held to
be necessary If the United States Is to
keep up with the procession in this vital
field of defense. If another war ever
should develop, there might not be time
to build up defenses, ssarting from
scratch, as was the case in this war.
A ground Army of 10000 men also is
regarded as necessary minimum in the
light Of new conditions. If Germany is
to be occupied for any length of time
and If Japan Is to be occupied. then an
Army Of this size win be inadequate.
German occupation is to call for 100000
men. Nobody quite knows whether the
United States wants to astay in Japan
for any length Of time, but If she does,
force Of 100000 might be q minimum
for that occupation task Than there
are new bases to occupy, and II there
is TO be universal service In this coun-
try force of at least 100000 would be
required at home for training and serv-
icing tasks.
The unanswered question is related
to where the men are to come from to
constitute armed forces of this size.
+ x&
Universal service is supported strong
w hV tho vak
service win not provide men for q per-
manens military establishment. 1t
merely provides reserve force to be
drawn upon in event of war. 1t does not
assure men for use In service overseas
In occupation forces or as contingents
to man bases. Training would be for
one year, and 1t would not be practical
in that time to condition the men,
train them and move them, say, to the
Philippines for a few weeks or months
before bringing them back for dis
charge.
In the early years after this war 1t
may be possible to solve the problem
simply by rather slow demobilization
Men in the service in the present war
have been drafted for the duration and
six months. The general idea of men in
service Is that this means release within
six months after the last shot Is fred,
Actually, it requires :. discharge six
months after the President by proclama-
ton or the Congress by joint resolution
declares formally that the emergency is
ended. This formal declaration may not
come until good many months after
the fighting itself is over During that
period and for six months beyond 1t, the
military services can keep men in uni
form to do the jobs that have to be done.
Voluntary enlistments might provide
the Navy and air forces the men that
they want, although this is somewhat
questionable. After the war there will be
a very strong urge to get back to peace
full pursuits and to forget about military
things. The Army has let it be known
that it doubts whether the most gener-
Gus offer in the way of pay and perQui-
sites viii attract more than 250,000 men
to its ranks on volunteer basis after
the war.
The hard fact of the matter Is that
nobody quite knows where this country
Is to get the men to make up the armed
forces 1t considers necessary.
A draft in peacetime could do 1t, using
drafted men to serve a fixed number of
years. Yet it is highly doubtful that
Congress would approve such a draft.
There even is some doubt whether Con-
gress viii sanction one year of military
training for 100000 youths each year.
Taxpayers are going to become rather
sour on the question of national de-
fense when called upon to support
peacetime military establishment cost,
ing between 5000, 900 900 and ss.0oo,-s
100000 year. An entire budget for
New Deal year was not much greater
than that
The result is that there always Is the
chance that the United States will drift
back into state of something ap-,
preaching defenselessness, placing its
dependence upon Navy which IL will
regard as large enough to keep maraud-
ers from It's shores and upon an air
force of moderate size. II other nations
follow this course, too. 1t win be q pop
ular and q safe one. If, however. some
others turn to military establishments
OF great size and power, the United
States may find itself up against real.
problem. !,
tInfsns~kaI p..~s.