Evening star., 1945-10-23

l
efforts of hundreds Of thousands Of
men. Further, we needed the B-29s
and their fighter escorts which gave
us control of the air over Japan.
This was the result of thousands
of hours of training and prepara-
ton in the United States and the
energies Of hundreds of thousands
of men.
THE effect OF technology on the
military structure is identical to It's
effect on national economy. Just as
the automobile replaced the horse
and made work for millions of
Americans, the atomic explosives
/ will require the services of millions
of men If we are compelled to en-
ploy them in fighting our battles.
Requires Services Of All.
"This war has made it clear that
the security of the Nation when
challenged by an armed enemy, re-
quires the services Of virtually all
able bodied male citizens within the
effective military age group
Even the atomic bomb would have
been useless to us unless we had
developed a strong Army, Navy and
Air Force with which to beat of
the attacks of our foe. and then fight
our way to points within striking
distance of the heart Of the enemy.
: Assume that on December 7, 1941,
the United States had had supply
of atomic bombs in New Mexico
or Tennessee. What could we have
done with them?
Assume that the United States
and Japan both had had supply
OF the bombs on December 7, 1941.
Which would have survived?
| Suppose that both England and
Germany had had the atomic bomb
In September of 1910 during the
"Blitz" over England. Which coun-
try would have been destroyed?
The answer is clear that the
, atomic bomb is of little value with
out an adequate Army, air and
naval force. For that kind of force
is necessary to protect our shores,
, to overcome any attack and to
enable us to move forward and
, direct the bomb against the enemy's
! own territory. Every new weapon
will eventually bring some counter
defense against it. Our ability to
use either a new weapon or a
counterweapon will ultimately de-
pend upon a strong Army, Navy and
; Air Force, with all the millions of
men needed to supply them-all
. quickly modified and adequately
. equipped.
ANY system which Is intended to
; guarantee our national defense will,
Of course, cause some inconvenience
,, and perhaps even some hardship
!. to our people. But we must bal
ance that against the danger which
: we face unless we are realistic and
: hard-headed enough to be prepared.
, Today universal training is the
!, only adequate answer we have to
!, our problem in this troubled world.
r Strives for World Unity.
There will be better answers, we
hope, in the days to come The
! United States will always strive for
= those better answers-for the kind
+, OF tried and tested world co-opera-
: ton which will make for peace and
harmony among all nations. 1t will
p continue to strive to reach that
period quickly. But that time has
not yet arrived.
Even from those who are loudest
in their opposition to universal
training, there has come no other
!, suggestion to furnish the protection
and security which we must have
7 nothing but pious hope and danger
Gus wishful thinking.
I urge that the Congress pass this
legislation promptly-while the
S danger is still fresh In our minds
! while we still remember how close
e we came to destruction four years
t ago-while we can vividly recall the
horrors of invasion which our Allies
S suffered-and while we can still see
v all the ravages and ruin of war.
Let us not by short-sighted ne
e glect of our national security betray
:, those who come after us.
r 1t is our solemn duty in this hour
n of victory to make sure that in the
t years to come no possible aggressoI
= or group of aggressors can endangel
e the national security of the United
t States of America.