Evening star., 1948-03-23
Constellation Still the Same

Constellation Still the Same
To the Editor Of The Star:
Why all the fuss and feathers recently ap-
pearing in the press over the gallant old U. S..
Frigate Constellation?
In many respects ships are like people
It is said that some scientists studying the
human anatomy aver that tissue Of the body
completely renews itself during every seven
years.
Similarly, also, in measure, changes occur
during the life Of a ship. Periodically she re-
quires overhaul and reconditioning; timber is
renewed here, some fittings or plate replaced
there But in name, spirit and tradition the
vessel remains the same "ship-in-being."
So it is with the venerable Constellation, now
lying alongside Boston dock awaiting over
haul and rehabilitation. Yes, she Is the self
same dashing frigate that was launched into
the emerald waters of the Chesapeake, at Balti-
more, on that bright morning of September T.
1897. LUCIUs c. DUNN,
Captain, U. S. Navy (Retired).
Population and Natural Resources
To the Editor Of The STAR
have read with interest in The Star of
March 18 the editorial, Population and
Power"
The last sentence says: TN the crcum-
stances our population outlook-the prospective
decline in our youth and the gain in oldsters-
is anything but reassuring in an age when
nations must still worry about where they
stand in the balance Of power"
It seems to this writer that our population
prospects as described in your editorial (and
more fully in the Census study are much more
reassuring than those Of Soviet Russia
True, Russia's population is likely to be
considerably larger than ours, both as regards
total number and men Of military age. It also
Is true that our age group 18 to A years will
decrease in relation to the older working age
group As to ga years. but we shall have as
large fighting force in 1875 as we had during
World War H.
We had no lack Of quantity of men in the
military age during World War II, and in the
highly mechanical push-button war OF tho
future we are likely to need fewer soldiers,
but more producers Of war material. The
latter can be furnished by older workers
IS to 64 years.
Much more important in any future war
will be the quality Of the manpower and
surpluses Of natural resources above and
beyond those needed to support the civilian
population. In World War II about 40 per cent
Of our young men 18 to A years could not
qualify for military service. This was one of
our weak spots, and should be corrected in
the future. In any case. World War II was
won not by quantity of manpower but by
surpluses Of natural resources and industrial
production above and beyond those needed to
support our civilian population.
Russia's Growing Population.
Notwithstanding Russia's huge expanse on
the map many students Of the problem be-
hot lie oIrao o(xy Iofo
The fact that she cannot muster a high
level ofN living for her people is further evi-
dence. AS she increases her population, she
is almost certain to have fewer surpluses Of
natural resources and industrial production to
wage offensive warfare.
Studies of our topsoil, forests, and mineral
resources indicate that we, too, are likely to
have fewer srpluses of natural resources
But this situation would be aggravated If our
population continued to increase by leaps and
bounds as it seems Russia's population is doing.
Far more important than the sizes Of our
armies, or perhaps even the difference in
surpluses of natural resources, Is the type of
weapons that may be used In the next war.
A relatively few arplanes carrying atomic
bombs could smash either Russia or the United
States. At least such bombs could smash the
industrial districts of either country, and If
the larger the population the harder the fall
is likely to be, because large populations are
vitality dependent upon large industrial dis
tricts
It seems to this writer that in studying
population problems great deal more atten-
ton should be given to basic probsms than
to problems of adjustment. The problems
that will arise by the slowing down Of our
population growth and the aging Of our people,
are minor problems Of adjustment compared
to an unfavorable ratio of population to
natural resources. country can adjust itself
to the former problems, but to the latter
problem there are few If any means Of escape,
as even the once mighty England now Is ind
ing out.
It seems to me that the author Of the Census
Bureau study upon which your editorial COM