The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-01-17

The Army should have known
that they never could have put over
delayed rehabilitation. This is
not that kind OF a country. Our
boys are not cannon-fodder nor
are they dumb-clucks who imagine
that a man is a god. They will
fight for their country and flag
like devils but they resent being
treated like kids.
The American soldier went Into
this war TO fight the German and
the Japanese. Now that there are
no more Germans and Japanese to
fight, he wants to go home. He
does not want to police the world.
He does not want TO interfere In
the affairs OF the other countries.
He does not want TO hang around
some base doing Iothing useful.
suffering indignities at the hands Of
silly officers who. having nothing
to do either. make work for the
G. is. He does not want TO see
the odd and end places OF the
earth. He wants u come home.
Being an American, he prefers his
own town to Paris. London, Manila
or anything the Army can OFFER.
When some Army brass-hat talks
about the G.. |. busting up our inter
national effectiveness and making
II possible for our enemies TO re-
establish themselves, he fools no
G. /. The American soldier can
read a newspaper or a book or
whatever there is as we'll as the
officer. He can see holes through
the orientation courses. The
American G. |. can ask, who Is this
enemy you say you need 100000
troops for? What's his name? Ger
tainly the Japanese cannot re-
establish themselves in any period
under current consideration. Ger
tainly, the japanese cannot re-
into four parts and held by four
powers, she cannot make another
war Who is that enemy for whom
100000 or thereabouts OF Ameri-
can boys are held in the Army and
Navy, wasting the best years OF
their youth? Let the prospective
enemy be named or let the military
toreadors get themselves a new
line OF propaganda for delayed de-
mobilization. No German or no
Japanese Is going to make war
on the United States during any
period while these G. Is remain
soldiers.
From the standpoint OF the par
ticular G. l., he Is caught in a trap.
It is not anything OF his own max
ing; he was born either too early
| or too late. So he has to hang
around until the points accumulate.
He is not defending American soil
or the honor OF the American flag.
He is Just hanging around wait
ing for the politicians to write
peace treaty.
The highest estimate for the
permanent military requirements
was the order OF 100000 men for
all services. Why are more than
double that number being retain
ed? The boy who is kept in the
Armed forces waiting for points TO
accumulate is a miserable creature
in many ways. He sees other boys
going to school and college while
h washes the latrines and picks
up cigarette butts. He sees the
happy years go by when he might
be laying the foundation for a
career. He sees the fellows at
home grabbing the available jobs,
while he Just hangs around walt
ing, waiting for points. And when
the points accumulate, there is no
shipping, and II there Is shipping
maybe some brass spoils the SEIZED
ule. There are no heroics In that.
There is no compensating sense OF
service. II is a frightful bore.
md the C. |. remembers that
bach when the war was hot. there
was a plan 70 slow rehabilitation.
for keeping the Army overseas for
about two years after the war end
ed. A howl went up when the plan
leaked out and the usual lies were
told that there would be speedy
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