The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-08-02
80 Reserve Officers
Will Be Discharged
Act Entirely Economy Measure By War Department;
Some May Be Recalled for Active Duty Later

Boston.-Failure of enrollments
in the Civilian Conservation Corps
to reach the quotas prescribed for
| New England under the expansion
| program now in progress today
| caused the announcement from
First Corps are headquarters here
50 reserve officers, already called
to active duty and under training
as future company commanders
and company officers, will be dis
| charged Immediately.
/ Major General Fox Conner,
! commanding the First Corps Area
announced this morning that the
discharge of these officers is ell
tirely an economy measure dictated
by the War Department, that in all
probability it will be possible to
recall all of them for active duty
later and thath the necessity for
their relief at this time is in no
manner a reflection against the
character or personal efficiency of
the officers concerned.
program outlined in April of this
year, the number of active work
companies in New England was in
creased to 17S, or approximately
double the number in existence at
theh time. Camp sites were select
by the army on work projects in
Dictated by the Forestry and other
techcnical agencies; bids for ma
| terials to construct the camps were
| opened and all plans completed for
increasing the scope of relief Of
fered by the Civilian Conservation
Corps enterprise.
An important step in anticipa-
ton of the expansion was the
selection and preliminary training
of Reserve officers for active duty
of the companies to be organized
Members of the Reserve compon-
ents of the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps were, on their own applica-
ton and after careful perusual OF
their past records, selected for this
duty. They were placed in schools
for theoretical instruction in the
operation of messes, funds, general
administration and property ac.
counta bility and after the compile
ton of their theoretical courses
were sent to the field for practi-
cal instruction at existing camps
Later they were to be assigned to
/ CCC districts from which they
were to receive orders to active
duty with companies in the field
A few of these officers already
| have been placed with organiza.
tons and many others are just
completing their practical field
training.
Enrollments in the CCC how.
ever, under the eligibility rules in
existence, dropped off appreciabls
averaging around IA per cent short
of anticipated levels. Selecting
agencies were contacted and asked
for estimates of their maximum
enrolment figures as a result Of
which 1t was apparent that tht
First Corps Area would probabl,
not be able to reach its full On.
rollment quota by August 81 whict
was the date originally set to ter
inmate the expansion period.
Activities Curtailed
The War Department then issued
| INSTRUCTIONS tndt the lnteTeStS vi
economy dictated the curtailmerl
of activities for complete expansion
until assurance could be had tina.
the full program would be met
simultaneously 1t was indicated
that the enrolment period for the
expansion probably would be ex-
tended. It was announced that
the entire program of employing
900, 900 youths In CCC work
throughout the United States would
be definitely completed before the
| winter.
The First Corps Area was d.
rected to discharge those officers
for whom there would be no pos
sible active duty assignments be-
fore the close of the original ex-
pansion period on August 81. This
necessitated the relief OF eighty
| two officers. The orders are being
issued at Corps Area Headquarters
for their removal from the active
list on July goth.
1T IN regrettabie that such
steps are necessary" said General
Conner this morning. "but l feel