Combined Operation

The Army & Navy fought shoulder to shoulder last week for universal military training in peacetime.

The opposition had sent up, as its most eloquent expert, former Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels, still spry at 83. His chief argument: the move to peacetime conscription was "pumped-up propaganda," based on false premises--fear, cynicism and imperialism.

But the Army & Navy had well prepared their combined operation of expert testimony. General Eisenhower wrote: "Fairness to the country and to the individual's chances of survival in war demand . . . intelligent training of this kind." George C. Marshall, citizen & soldier, said: "[Universal training] would be a perfect demonstration of democracy, with rich & poor alike, side by side, rendering a common service. . . ."

The Navy moved up. Secretary James Forrestal said that a poll of servicemen would preponderantly favor universal service--"they believe as I do that the means to make war should be in the possession of the nations which hate war. . . ." From Admirals King, Nimitz and Halsey came urgent nods of the head.

Man of Peace. The most cogent appeal came from War Secretary Henry Lewis

Stimson, 77, soldier of World War I, veteran of many a diplomatic battle, enlightened and nonpartisan elder statesman. Henry Stimson was astonished by the "shopworn catchwords and objections." Said he:

"Universal training for national defense did not have its birth in militarism or autocracy. It has almost everywhere followed the banner of freedom & democracy. . . . We have no right to gamble on the hope that our country for the third time will have even the little breathing space she has had in these two wars for preparation. . . .

"To advocate any Dumbarton Oaks plan, and then shear ourselves of the power to carry it out, would be even worse than our refusal to join the attempt at world organization in 1919."

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