Evening star., 1950-08-08
Home-Front Morale
Called Big Problem oi
Truman and Advisers
People Should Be Assured
MobiIizing Purpose Is
To Prevent Major War
By Dapid Laurence


somehow be assured, for instance,
that there would be no more
fighting after Korea is pacified
and that the main purpose Of
mobilization now is to prevent a
large-scale war. there is no sacri-
fice Of time or convenience or dol
lars that would not be enthusi-
aStically made. Such assurance
can't be given, but what is the
plan If large-scale war doesn't
break out for years?
The big problem now for Presi-
dent Truman and his advisers is
horne-front morale. Young men
who did their bit and more in
World War II are being asked to
give up their jobs and detach
themselves from their families
and many Of these men now have
responsibilities they did not have
when they went to war before.
A long-range program of as
surance that the reserves now
being called up will be replaced
in year or thereabouts is abSo-
lutely essential. The reserves be-
ing called now for the Army, the
Navy. the Marines, and the Air
Force will 60 away to service
with more enthusiasm and much
less anxiety if they can be told
that there is a plan to replace
them and let them go back to
work-in the event that large
scale war doesn't break out In q
year.
Need for Universal Training.
If Russia doesn't make another
move like that in Korea and holds
off further aggression, then it
would not be fair to keep those
American reservists in uniform
doing police duty in various parts
Of the globe.
What is clearly indicated is the
need for a system Of universal
military training to be author
tied at once and a wider and
wider application Of the draft, to-
gether with more and more off,
GERS training camps. Such plan
should be organized now so as
to give some degree Of assurance
to the reservists that they will
not remain in uniform indefinite
ly during a period Of several years
Of tension in which hostilities do
not occur.
Every day that passes seems to
prove that the present period is
unlike any other in the past. For
while there is a readiness to meet
sudden war, there is also the pos
sibility that no large-scale war
may break out at all. Preparation
for either contingency must be
the same, so as to prevent war.
The assumption in the Korean
affair has been that Russia wanted
to test out Americas determina-
ton to resist. If this is so; then
the young men who have died and
those who are making heroic sac
rifices every day in Korea are per-
forming a service for the rest OF
the American people which has
not yet been pointedly explained
or fully appreciated. Those SOL
diers in Korea who wonder why
they are there should be told that
they are preventing a large-scale
war-that they are giving an
example of American resistance
which may prevent further ag-
gression altogether.
To support the morale Of men
who are now in Korea and those
In the United States who are
donning uniforms, the Secretaries
Of the Army. Navy and Air. to-
gether with the Secretary Of De-
fenSe, should be able soon to an
nounce that a system Of replace
ments is planned. If the money
isn't specifically authorized for
this as yet, Congress should be
apprised of it, SO that plans can
be laid Immediately to bring back
after a few months or year the
veterans who have just responded
to the call.
Chances of Large-Scale War.
What are the chances Of large
scale war? This question cannot
be answered by any one, but e
larger mobilization Of trained men
can prove valuable in the event
that war does break out. Then
incidentally. America would have
the newly trained men plus the
f1rst line of reserves, and this
could mean a force big enough tc
assure victory.
There's one piece Of news in
this connection that hasn't been
printed yet which may or may not
be straw in the wind. For sew
eral days now, Russian subma-
rineS have appeared in Korean
waters. They have been engaged
in patrolling and getting informa-
ton. They have not made a single
maneuver of hostility. Instruc-
tions to our ships and planes at
sea are to shoot or drop bombs
only II submarine gets itself in
a position close enough to fire a
torpedo. The mere fact that the
Russian subs have refrained is
proof that the Soviets do not in
tend to extend the area Of hostili-
ties and involve their own forces
at least, that's the present picture.
But it is an encouraging one
nevertheless, for If the Soviets had
intended to start a war, they have
had plenty Of chance to do so these
last ten days by firing from sub
marine hiding behind North Ko-
rean flag.
There are other evidences that
Moscow may intend to harass the
Western Allies but not to start
large-Scale war. The policy of
America and her associates is to
mobilize in the hope that the
steps taken now will prevent war,
Hence those who serve in uniform
today and those behind them on
the home front are playing a vital
-