Evening star., 1948-03-28

that President Truman did not tell
ton of the American continent.
They have been told convincingly
that occupation of such strategic
points as Iceland, Spitzbergen.
Greenland, Newfoundland and
Alaska by the Soviet would threaten
directly New York, Warrington,
Chicago. San Francisco and other
important industrial establishments
throughout the country.
Fifteen hundred or 2,000 miles
was safe enough as a defensive sons
for any country 10 or is years ago.
Today, when bombers have . much
greater range, the safe" distance
has increased many times.
No one conversant with modern
war methods believes that We have
entered the "push-button" era. But
nobody believes either that coun-
try which is militarily unprepared
will have time to recover after the
first blows have been delivered, A.
was the case after Pearl Harbor.
AS the Military Sees 1t
These considerations, which have
been explained at length and with
wealth Of positive detail, have
convinced our legislators that the
time for special prediction oratory
has passed. They are aware Of
their responsibility and are now
willing to cooperate with those di-
rectly charged with national de-
tense.
Our Congressman also are aware
that war need not be inevitable.
There are a number OF civilian and
military men In the Government
who believe that Russia might still
hesitate to risk war with the United
States If she realizes that America
is getting ready for q showdown.
The recent abandonment of the
appeasement policy, which brought
us to the brink Of q precipice. has
had a temporarily sobering effect
on Moscow.
The conviction Of the men In the
kremlin, based on five years Of alb
ject American appeasement, has
caused them to put into effect their
plans for world domination. Those
diplomats and military men. who
think war can be avoided base their
belief not on actual information
but on the belief that Russia will
hesitate to push this country around
when 1t shows that it is determined
to meet force with force.
Many long and didactic discuss
sions have been held over the merits
and dement's Of UNIT, which many
in the past considered an important
move toward preparedness. The
actual truth, as seen by professional
military men and communicated to
Congress, is as follows:
| II the danger of another armed
clash were still in the uncertain
and distant future, it is possible
that UNIT might be the answer to
our problems.
UNIT cannot provide the military
establishments with the necessary
personnel for national defense. A
few months Of training for youths
OF Is and 10 will not give the armed
forces the necessary fighting men.
What is necessary today Is intensive
military training for at least 18
months, during which the men will
learn nothing but how to fight O.
modern war.
To enter a war with an armed
force made up of youths who have
had simply few months training
in such things as military deport-
ment, the manual of arms and
parade formations would be little
short of criminal.
May Take Some Convincing
Time is running out. The ground
forces, the Navy and especially the
Air Force need men fully conversant
with the requirements Of modern
fighting.
According to some experts the
armed forces will need at least
800, 900 men in the first draft. It Is
possible that this number will be
sufiicient to convince the Kremlin
rulers that war does not pay and
possibly might persuade them to
change their tune. In such case, o
further draft would not be necessary
and the men eventually could be re-
leased and return to their occupa-
tions.
However, and this is the con.
sidered opinion of all those who are
responsible for our national security,
unless Russia sees positively that We
mean to defend ourselves with
everything at our disposal, there II
not the slightest chance Of hsr
changing her present policies.
Moscow stepped up its drive for
world domination only after she
realized that the powerful American
armed forces had been pulyerized
by an inane policy Of demobilization.
AS was the case after World War I,
the Government decided to re-
establish peace by goodwill and
example. 1t believed that II We,
who at the end of the war possessed
the most powerful ground, naval and
air forces in the world, discarded
our arms and beat our swords into
peace would be effec-
lively established throughout the
world.
Now we are frantically trying 10
our forces in q race
against time. Congress Is willing TO
refrain from placing obstacles in the
way of q plan to re-create some