C++ templates: How to conditionally compile different code based on data type?

Here's a small example that illustrates the essence of my question:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std ;
typedef char achar_t ;

template < class T > class STRING
{
   public:
     T *    memory   ;
     int    size     ;
     int    capacity ;
   public:
     STRING() {
        size     =   0 ;
        capacity = 128 ;
        memory   = ( T *) malloc( capacity * sizeof(T) ) ;
     }
     const STRING& operator=( T * buf) {
         if ( typeid(T) == typeid(char) )
            strcpy( memory, buf ) ;
         else
            wcscpy( memory, buf ) ;
        return *this ;
     }
}  ;

void main()
{
  STRING<achar_t> a ;
  STRING<wchar_t> w ;
  a =  "a_test" ;
  w = L"w_test" ;
 cout << " a = " << a.memory << endl ;
 cout << " w = " << w.memory << endl ;
}

Can some one please help me compile the above? That is somehow compile either with strcpy() or wcscpy() based on the type of the object i am using.

thank you