The Daily Alaska Empire

Alaska Points in Need Of Military Training
Says Recent Visitor

Ray H. Brannaman, National Vice-Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars, recent visitor in Juneau at the VFW Encampment writing from Washington, D. C., under date of May 11, says the following:

I have just returned from an inspection trip to Alaska. My visit to that most strategic area has convinced me more than ever of the grave necessity for universal military training - this year. If we delay, delay, delay as we have done in the past, some day we will find ourselves too late. The strangely reluctant attitude of congress in failing to bring this question to a fair test gives grounds for alarm. For we have potential enemies, nations that are ideological enemies already.

In Alaska it was my privilege to attend the annual encampment of the Alaska Department, Veterans of Foreign Wars, where Major General Howard A. Craig, commanding general of the Alaskan armed forces, made this highly significant statement:

"Next time we are target No. 1 Next time the blow will come suddenly and unannounced in the form of powerful air attacks seeking to destroy or paralyze our defensive air and ground forces. Look to the north. There on the other side of the Polar Basin is the European-Asiatic land with three-quarters of the world's population. There is where an attack will come from if we are ever forced into another conflict, and invading aircraft in flying the shortest route to our industrial areas will fly over the Polar Basin."

General Craig is right. Alaska needs powerful military and naval defenses. But that is not enough. Behind those defenses we must have trained civilian reserves, men here at home with the know-how to back up our regular establishments. Universal military training is the democratic, efficient and economical way to provide those civilian reserves so necessary to keep the peace, and to safeguard us from any sudden attack.