Defense, Policy

IN A REPORT TO THE FACULTY and administrative staff of the College, the central committee of the American Defense Dartm outh Group last month announced that its program would follow the basic policy that "the United States should take whatever action is necessary to prevent the Axis Powers from winning the war." This statement was made in answer to questions about the committee's attitude on funda- mental issues in the national emergency. During the past month the Dartmouth Group also circulated among the faculty and administrative staff a questionnaire designed to obtain a general point of view which would enable the Group to plan an intelligent program of discussion and possible action immediately after the Christmas recess. The questionnaire solicited College beliefs with regard to such questions as the form of aid to Britain, defense production, loans to belligerents, and use of American ships in war zones.

ADVISED TO CONTINUE STUDIES

In a statement coinciding with the Dartmouth Defense Group's general report, the active sub-committee on military servi \ce, under the direction of Prof. Henry M. Dargan, advised undergraduates to continue their studies "reasonably and patiently, without hysteria, to June 15th or longer." The great majority of undergraduates, the committee advised, "may accept the Selective Service Act as the measure of their patriotic devotion: they are not obliged, and would not be wise, to volunt eer before they are called."

The military service committee further stated that its main work is to collect reliable information about military service and to give that information to Dartmouth students and alumni who wish to be informed. It sought to dispel the idea that non-combatant and one-year service are common. "In fact, official information and miscellaneous evidence combine to indicate that Selective Service is the only sort of adult military training in which a man may have some reasonable expectancy of discharge after one year," it stated. "The committee particularly wants to emp hasize that the Officers' Reserve Corps of the army is closed to intending applicants (or admits none but specialists) and that the navy is not now accepting fresh candidates for the 'V-7' probationary month's cruise to be followed by ninety days of midshipman-instruction ashore. Very thorough instruction for would-be aviators is offered by the army and navy to applicants who seriously intend to qualify after thirty days of elimination flight-school and to remain on active duty three or four years. For college graduates who wish to become platoon leaders, and who have the needed qualities, the Marine Corps Reserve offers very thorough training; this program requires only one year but its term of active service may be extended in time of war or national emergency."

"In spite of some conflicting evidence," the committee statement concluded, "we think the military establishment of the United States is being gradually expanded in accord with a general idea that our soldiers, sailors and marines may really need to fight and should really be capable of waging a successful war."

Although the American Defense Dartmouth Group is essentially a faculty organization, and statement has been made that there is no intent to force students into activity, greater participation of und ergraduates in the Group program is being welcomed and Palaeopitus has formed a committee to encourage this.