Evening star., 1947-11-22
Senator Lodge Proposes
American Foreign Legion
Would Build Up Combat Area Forces
by Recruiting of Aliens in Unit
The Political Mil
Bv Gould Lincoln

6v TOml Lincoln
With the United States facing the need, If
it's regular Army is to be kept up to necessary
defense strength, of returning to draft"
system, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massa-
chusetts has proposed the creation OF an
American Foreign Legion" This is something
entirely new for peacetime America.
Mr. Lodge does not suggest that this force,
to be recruited from aliens, is to fight the
battles of the United States What he pro-
poses is that it be used for garrison duty in
occupied areas-Germany, Japan the Pacific
islands, Trieste and Korea. This would free
Americans in the Army to enter combat units,
available at all times for duty in case this
country becomes involved in war. The Army,
Mr.. Lodge points out Is short about 10000
men. This makes the Army short about so to
10 per cent OF minimum strength Of five
divisions of combat ground troops. Voluntary
enlStments utterly fail to keep the armed
forces up to the strength required for safety,
Notwithstanding the fact Congress has pro-
vided soldier pay comparable to that received
in private industry when all allowances are
taken into consideration.
Seeks Discussion on Plan.
The Massachusetts, Senator, who resigned
from the Senate to serve in the Army during
the war and saw service in several areas over
ness. He admits this idea of an American
Foreign Legion is something which he him.
self thought up-but an idea which he has
discussed with military men. He is seeking
public discussion of the plan, hoping to press
for its adoption later. He is confident, however,
that the plan is feasible, and that 1t can be
carried out without further legislation, If the
President and the Department of Defense Is
willing to 60 along
Advantages of the adoption of the plan sug-
gest themselves readily. There Is ample testi-
mony that the teen-age American boys, sent
to Germany and other occupied territory, are
being demoralized by conditions they run into.
If the Foreign Legion for garrison duty idea OF
Mr.. Lodge were adopted it would no longer
be necessary for these boys to serve overseas.
Also, such a plan would bring up to full
strength the Regular Army-which includes the
men for garrison duty in the occupied areas
And further, the proposed service would give
opportunity to many young men of Polish
Czech, anti-Naz German, Russian and other
stock to enlist at time when many of them
need work, when many of them are in dam
ger of their lives if they return to their home
lands. Serving overseas, as they will, the pay
need be no more than half of what is now paid
the enlisted personnel of the American Army.
Universal military training, which Senator
Lodge supports for the youth of this country
and as measure of national Defense will not
put new men into the Regular Army. It will pro-
vide a great trained reserve force-Which it Is
intended to do. The immediate problem, as Mr..
Lodge points out, Is to provide combat army
capable of seizng and holding military bases
In time of war. If Gen. Eisenhower is right in
saying that the issue in the next war may be
decided in the first go days, 1t is the height
of folly to have an American Army which is
not Immediately prepared for war.
Precedents Cited.
'Mercenaries" es"-aliens-already are employed
to guard American supplies in Germany The
principle, therefore, is not entirely foreign to
our practices. During the war many aliens
served in the Army. While we. held possession
of the Philippine Islands we built up armed
forces composed Of Filipinos. Mr.. Lodges plan
contemplates the enlistment of 900 aliens for
this foreign service starter-with a pro-
viso they shall never serve in the United States
proper. At no time Is the foreign force to ex-
ceed IS per cent of the total Army.
The formation of an American Foreign Le-
gion-somewhat similar to the French Foreign
Legion which has operated for years in French
Africa-might stir criticism by Soviet Russia.
1t might be charged that this country was at
work building up an international armed force
to be used against the Soviet government some
day. But in view of the harsh things that
Russian leaders are saying about the United
States, what difference would added criticism
make2 The Lodge Dlan warrants studv