The Daily Alaska Empire

Rebuilding the Army

(Fairbanks News-Miner)

Army Secretary Royall's disclosure of plans for a
draft-bolstered Army of 12 regular divisions is reassuring
news.

By the end of 1948, the Army total strength is
expected to reach 900,000 men.

The program also calls for creation of six full
strength National Guard and organized reserve divisions,
bringing the total mobile striking force on this
continent to 18 divisions.

The prospects are that this entire force will come
into being by the end of 1949.

These plans are in marked contrast to the manner
in which the Army has been allowed to disintegrate
since the end of the war into what the military experts
frankly termed a "hollow shell."

Depleted by manpower demands for occupation
tasks in Europe and Asia, the ground forces in this
country dropped to less than two divisions. Only
one, the 82nd Airborne, at Fort Bragg, N. C., has
remained at near full division strength.

It is well to remember, however, that the goal of
12 regular divisions and six guard and reserve divisions
has been described by Chief of Staff Bradley
as the "barest of minimums necessary" for a reasonable
degree of national security.

In the continuing emergency, the question naturally
arises whether the "barest of minimums" in
defense requirements is a sufficiently high goal for
the nation's military planners. This is a matter of
deepest concern to all citizens.