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Second, Reader Knapp makes fun of the Christian doctrine 'Too proud to fight.' I do not believe this is a Christian doctrine. If Christ said: "Peace on earth and good will towards men," then surely He would not advocate such clamor and strife as war. He would fight for the right, but if war is right, if killing the pick of our men is right, certainly Christ would not have said: "Peace on earth."
Third, Reader Knapp probably does not realize that the men of tomorrow are the boys of today; and the Boy Scout movement is their training, which will make them better fitted for their life as men. And as a result of their training, neither for nor against the war, they will use their judgment, 'which their Boy Scout training has made better, and I am sure the result would be "Peace on Earth and good among men." DAVID F. SELVIN
P. S. If the army is "for men only," the army of the next generation will be 100% Boy Scout. (Once a scout, always a scout.)
Tooele, Utah.
"If Kingsley Bleeds"
Sirs:
Kingsley B. Leeds [TIME, Aug. 1] believes you owe the Boy Scouts an apology for connecting them with organizations which have ever been our first line of national defense, with organizations which have ever been devoted to public service since our country came into being, with organizations which made our country possible and which have preserved it and increased its greatness!
May I suggest that you send the young man the enclosed pamphlet entitled "Other Things the Army Does Besides Fight," an address delivered by Mr. Weeks when he was Secretary of War? He will probably refuse to read it, or, if he does read it, he will do so as superficially as he read that part of the Scout Manual quoted by you in answer to his letter. . . . I feel certain that if ever Kingsley Bleeds, it will NOT be from wounds received in defense of the innumerable benefits he enjoys as a member of this nation—benefits won and preserved by patriots—not by pacifists.
JOHN W. ERLANGER Washington, D. C.
Leeds Praised
Sirs:
Custis Knapp (retired) [TiME, Aug. 8] seems to have a mind incapable of understanding any brand of manliness and courage excepting that of the spectacular variety which, accompanied by flag-waving and the blare of trumpets, goes out to destroy and kill.
Kingsley B. Leeds [TiME, Aug. 1] has discovered a higher type of manliness and deserves respect for his stand against the barbarism of war. . . .
I hope there are many among the Boy Scouts who share Kingsley Leeds' sort of manliness.
CAROLINE PEDDLE BALL. Harwinton, Conn.
Defends Scouting
Sirs:
I wonder what manner of gentleman Mr. Custis Knapp, U. S. A. retired, considers himself? Who is he to criticize Scout Leeds for correcting TIME in placing the Army and the Boy Scouts under the same head ?