Evening star., 1950-08-19
The Political Mill
Military raining Law
Action Needed at Once
People Beginning to Realize
Freedom Rests on Strength
By Gould Lincoln

once again politics steps in to halt
the passage of universal military train
ing law for the United States.
Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson,
with the permission of President Tru-
man, asked Congress to enact such a law
Immediately. The next day President
Truman, at press conference, said he
had not personally asked for the pas
sage of the UNIT measure at this session
OF Congress; that he did not wish to
start Congressional battle that might
delay his more urgent Korean war pro-
gram.
With an election coming up in No
vember and the fact that universal mill
tary training as a national policy, has
had as many enemies as dog has fleaS,
Congress seems perfectly willing to go
along with Mr.. Truman in delaying the
necessary legislation to put the system
into effect.
All Evident to People.
Admittedly. the country would be far
better off today had universal military
training been adopted Immediately
after the cessation of hostilitieS of the
last war. President Truman strongly ad-
vocated universal military training at
the time and has repeatedly asked for
1t, but Congress would have none Of it.
All of this is evident to the American
people today and sentiment for UNIT
is materially stronger than it has ever
been before.
Here is an opportunity to get train
ing law on the books-a standby law
which the President could put into effect
when it would not interfere with the i'm
mediate drive to mobilize and train men
for the Korean war. 1t is a long-range
plan for national defense. And adequate
national defense is what this country
is going to need for a long time to come.
after the Korean war has been won. To
pass up the opportunity now, with the
idea that the measure can be pushed
through in the new Congress which
meets next January is just putting off
until an uncertain tomorrow what
should be done today.
Admitted that the training bill comes
too late for the present conflict it still
should be placed on the statute books
without delay. The bill proposed is not
adequate. 1t provides for only six
months actual training for 17-year- -olds.
They then could chose between six
months more training or joining the
National Guard, Reserves or Regular
branches of the armed services. Six
months training, according to the best
military opinion, is not sufficient. To
acquire the necessary discipline as well
as to be trained for combat service will
take year or longer.
Strength to Remain Free.
More and more the American people
are realizing that this country must be
strong, not only economically and pro-
ductively but also militarily. if they are
to remain free.
Again and again they have seen the
country become tremendously strong
militarily during war-when it has had
time to prepare while our Allies fought.
And again and again. they have seen
this power thrown to the four winds as
soon as the fighting has ended.
Again and again, they have seen this
country drawn into war when, had it
been strong militarily the war might
never have occurred.
Today, with our Allies still weak from
the last war, we will not have year, or
even six months, to prepare ourselves in
the event of major conflict. We will be
in it up to our necks the day after an
attack is made.
The war in Korea has demonstrated
effectually that war is not won by ma
chimes but by men-men who are trained
to use machines and also to fight on the
ground. 1t is trained manpower that
the country needs for defense.
But again politics threatens to delay
and perhaps postpone indefinitely-a
program which should give us the great
est security at the least cost.