Evening star., 1946-05-12
Royal Says Army's
Morale Is Lowered
By Unjust Critics.

Undersecretary of War Kenneth
G. Royal last night denounced
Monday morning quarterback"
and unjust critics whose attacks on
the armed forces, he declared, has
lowered the Army's morale and eff
cheney and decreased the Nations
influence in the world.
Speaking at the first yearly meet
ing since 1910 of the Society of the
Cincinnati, Mr.. Royal and Senator
Austin, Republican, of Vermont,
dealt with universal military train
ing and the necessity for continued
Well-trained leadership of the armed
forces.
Mr.. Royal said he had no OBJ
lection to honest criticism based on
facts, but that he was seriously dis
turbed by IAN increasing wave of
unjust criticism" based on gossip,
exaggeration selfish motives or plain
falsehood.
Has Cost too Much.
This increasing wave has ala
ready cost the United States too
much" he asserted. 1T has built
up enough prejudice against the
Army to interfere with voluntary
enlistments and it has interfered
with passage of the necessary draft
/ law.
1T has also decreased our influ-
ence in the world today and is en-
couraging other nations to attempt
steps and to make gestures and to
resort to policies which they would
not have dared consider if they were
beginning to doubt our ability as
we'll as our determination to back
up our policies"
Another result of such criticism
Mr.. Royal declared, is that it weak
ems "America's confidence in her
SELF He added that 'it is the
easiest step from that loss of con-
fldence to a further lack of con-
fidence in our form of government. I"
Senator Austin confined his speech
to historical and legal discussion
of the constitutional provision for
the training of the militia.
Not National Guard Alone.
/ He declared that the term militia
in this sense, and as intended by the
founders of this country, refers not
merely to the present National
Guard system, but to the obligation
which all able-bodied men have to
be educated and trained so that they
can come to the defense of their
country in time of emergency
This is the historical and true
position of our form of government" :"
he explained, and universal mill
tary training is democratically one
of the greatest obligations and pur-
poses of government"
( The Vermont Senator member
of the Naval Affairs Committee,
denied that universal military train
ing is the same as conscription. He
defined it as compulsory educa-
ton"
He made a special plea to the
members Of the society to promote
popular understanding of the ma
. t4O4id4 anu u
which makes universal military
training not only a democratic
process. but one which has actually
been on our law books for years"
Denies Caste System Exists.
Mr.. Royal also made special
plea to the society. which was Or
/ ganized by the officers who served
with George Washington. He asked
/ the members at their meeting in
/ Anderson House. 2118 Massachusetts
avenue NV, the national head
quarters, to promote the principle
of leadership as necessary to the
maintenance of a democratic Army
and democratic nation.
Mr. Royal concluded with a
denial that a caste system exists to
the extent often charged Or that
the armed forces are in any way
as criminal or immoral" as many
critics imply. Referring to the court
martial rate, he declared that this
is the most merciful Army we have
ever had in any war"