Evening star., 1940-07-31
ConscriptionBi||
Amended toCa||
Men Il 10 81
Registration Total
Cut to 1900, 900 by
Senute Units Chance
- By the Associated Press.

= By the Associated Press.
The Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee amended the Burke -Wads-
worth compulsory military training
bill today to require the registra-
ton only of men from 81 to 81
years old, instead of those between
18 to 81.
The Senate group acted while the
House Military Affairs Committee
was hearing from Secretary of War
Stimson testimony that prudent
trustee" of the Nations defenses
must realize that Great Britain
might be conquered in 80 days and
that Japan is in sympathy with
Italy and Germany.
Secretary Stimson gave his full
support to the Burke Wadsworth
bill and also sent word to the Sen
ate committee that the War De-
partment indorsed it and that the
Budget Bureau had passed it.
Two Senators, Thomas, Repub-
lican, of Idaho and Smathers. DEM
ocrat, of New Jersey, emerged from
a closed session of the Senate COM
mittee to say that the registration
age limit amendment was approved
unanimously.
Final Action Tomorrow.
Senator Smathers said the change
, was suggested by Senator Lee, Dem
ocrat, of Oklahoma and seconded
by Senator Bridges, Republican. of
New Hampshire Final committee
action on the bill will be taken to-
morrow, Senator Smathers said. It
is expected to be approved.
Supporters of the measure esti-
mated that the age alteration would
reduce from 42,000,000 to about H.
100000 the number of men to be
registered.
Army officials had said previously
that, while those from 18 to 81 were
to be registered, only men between
21 and As would be subject to Sc
lective draft for military service
The great majority of those called,
these officials had said, would be in
the 81 to 81 group.
AohAS onaAu
The youngest and oldest groups
were to be used to form home guard
units under the original provisions
of the bill, but Senator Smathers
said this had been eliminated en-
.tirely from the measure.
Chairman Sheppard was reported
to have read letter from Secretary
Stimson to the Senate Military
Committee session. It said that the
legislation was Endorsed by the War
Department and had been passed by
the Budget Bureau.
Some Senate advocates of con-
scription had been seeking word of
Budget Bureau approval as evidence
that President Roosevelt was favor
able to the bill. Mr.. Roosevelt re-
Trained from giving it any direct
outspoken support at his press con-
ference yesterday. He said he had
previously expressed his views on the
subject of compulsory training.
One such occasion which the
President may have had in mind
was in his broadcast address ac-
cepting the third-term nomination
when he said that, Because of the
millions of citizens involved in the
conduct of defense, most right
thinking persons are agreed that
some form of selection by draft is
as necessary and as fair today as
1t was in 1917 and 1918"
"Only Way to Meet Situation"
Secretary Stimson told the House
Committee that the only way for
the Nation to meet war situa-
tion" is by compulsory military
service.
He described the system of volun-
tary enlistments as "a costly fail
ure."
Of the dangers which he consid-
ers this country to face, the War
Secretary said:
"A prudent trustee must take into
consideration that in another 80
(See CONSCRIPTION, Page AS.