Show I Pre V Opinions ion s Comment o e t of f the fhe e Am American Press Civilian Opinion in Wartime We Ve suggested the tho other day that since civilian opinion exerts influence in wartime as well as in peace some serious effort cHort should be made to instruct at least the themore themore themore more articulate and influential part of oC our citizenry in the history history history his his- tory of warfare and the rudiments of military and naval science This instruction wo would woid ld not aim at making soldiers though It would be useful in supplying a desirable background for military training but rather at providing civilians with some essentials of a more competent judgment upon the events personalities and conduct of a conflict in which the nation may be engaged Objection to such an addition to education will be violent among pacifists who though r the they preach the horrors of war seem always fearful that the study of It will Incline the student to favor It We Ve do not think this objection objection objection tion deserves discussion A more plausible objection may be raised by the professional soldier who may feel eel that It will vill produce only that little knowledge which as Mr Pope has said is a n dangerous thing No doubt seat back drIvIng driving ing ought not to be encouraged in any form but the professional soldier cannot escape the intervention intervention inter inter- of civilian influence in what he likes to regard as his own business but which has In fact very much the business of ot all the people And it seems obvious obvious obvious ob ob- ob- ob to us that since this intervention intervention inter inter- is inevitable It is better for all concerned that an intelligent intelligent intelli intelli- gent effort should be bo made to give it some basis in knowledge and some direction In accepted general general general gen gen- eral principles But this statement may seem to deprecate tho the participation of civilian judgment in the conduct of war We Vc arc are far from that opinion Professional military judgment is not infallible It has shown the typical faults of the bureaucratic temper and mentalIty mentalIty mentality mental mental- ity too rigid devotion to rules and dogmas incapacity to adjust practice to altered conditions pride of opinion and in matters of authority and rank Especially the bureaucratic in inelasticity inelasticity inelasticity in- in elasticity of mind a routine ridden ridden ridden rid rid- den habit which refuses to face faco new conditions needs criticism and correction in war even more than In peace The civilian mind formed in the Intense competition tion of ot civil life lite may be more re respectful respectful respectful re- re of tho the controlling facts of a situation than the military militar r and its ils vcr very ery ignorance of military dogmas or principles may permit it to see sec what needs to be done when the military Bourbon is preoccupied preoccupied preoccupied pre pre- occupied with precedents and formulas which do not apply Indeed Indeed Indeed In In- deed we wo believe one of the prime problems of ot preparedness for wain waging modern war Is to devise means of bringing into Its conduct conduct conduct con con- duct more effectively the initiative initiative initiative initia initia- tive and realism which the best civilian minds develop in competitive com corn c c n fl t e r p r I s e. e e. ChIcago Chicago Tribune The Death Is Certified Leave us alone remove government government govern govern- govern S ment restrictions stop holding bolding and watch us perform perform we we are all ready to go Jo That was the declaration of spokesmen for industry commerce commerce com corn merce merco and finance against what was complained of as the hobbles of N R A. A Then suddenly came the su supreme supreme supreme su- su preme court decision Having shoved on the door and after tho the manner of speaking fallen through I. I on their faces these spokesmen then joined In a cautionary cautionary cautionary cau cau- aftermath with the al almost almost almost al- al most unanimous hope that part o of N R It A might be salvaged by substitute substitute sub sub- legislation Now we havo have the answer to that N R A as It directly affects private business was killed by bythe bythe bythe the supreme court not merel merely stunned N R A is really dead So those spokesmen of industry commerce and finance may have their way All AH hobbles are arc off oft Lets Let's see seo them perform And in I behalf of the millions of our fello fellow fellow fel fel- fel- fel lo low citizens who are still in economic economic eco ceo miser misery lets let's pray that the they m make ke good San San Francisco News |