Evening star., 1940-06-02
Defense
Continued From First Page)


before Congress will be willing to do
it, in my judgment"
Another Senator suggested pri-
vately that the President might be
seeking greater contro! over the cit
izen soldiers in an effort to stamp
out alleged fifth column" activities
within the Guard.
This Senator said he had heard
reports that Communist and Fascist
activities were widespread within the
ranks of the Guard in one State
which he did not name.
Taft Assails Proposal.
Senator Taft. Republican, of Ohio
said President Roosevelt's request
for authority to call out the National
Guard suggests lack of sound
judgment in the whole preparedness
excitement"
In prepared radio speech. the
Republican presidential aspirant
said the Constitution authorized
Congress to provide for the calling
out of the Guard ito enforce the
laws of the United States, to sup
press insurrection, to repel invasion
We certainly don't need it tc
enforce the laws or suppress insur-
rection,' he said. Certainly no in
vasion is threatened today and as
soon as any such threat comes, Con-
gress should be called into session
Senator Taft asserted that there
is at least a question whether there
is any well thought out general plan
of preparedness.
Demand fol More Power.
THE announcements and activity
so far" he said, consist primarily
in demand for more power for the
Executive, without any detailed ex-
planation as to why that power is
necessary or whether it is really 60
ing to be used. In any event, any
one who opposes unlimited grants
of power is in danger of being ac-
cused of helping Hitler"
Senator Taft said that I'VE were
suddenly presented Wednesday with
bill authorizing the Reconstruction
Finance Corp. to create a Govern
ment corporation with power to en-
gage in any business having any
relation to the national defense
which, of course. means any business
in the United States"
Saying that Il hope very much
If this power is granted it will be
used with a single eye to nationa
defense Senator Taft added:
But scratch of the President.
pen some day when Harry Hopkin.
(Secretary of Commerce) or Sid.
ney Hillman Cabor member of thu
National Defense Commission) droK
In to see him could put the Govern.
ment into any manufacturing busi.
ness in the United States"
Present Strength Of 24O,0O0.
The National Guard, which has &
present strength of about 225 ,0O(
men and $4,000 officers, is distinct
from the Regular Army and is sup.
ported jointly by Federal and State
governments.
War Department officials said the
President now has authority to cal
the guard to active duty for either
OF two purposes: l, to meet 9
threatened invasion; 2, to deal with
insurrection and disorder.
In the event Congress declares
national emergency to exist, they
added, the President can, under ex-
isting law, call the Guard out fol
any purpose.
President Roosevelt's request, sent
to Congress Friday in a message
recommending more than a billion
dollars more for national defense
was for authority to call to duty
"such portion of the National Guarc
as may be deemed necessary to main
tain our position of neutrality anc
to safeguard the national defense.
Says Number Is Limited.
Gen. Marshall pointed out in hi.
statement to the press yesterday
that the number of seasoned Regu-
lar troops available in the Cont.
mental United States was limited.
I'VE have but five peace-strength
triangular divisions, with a sixth
now in process of organization" hi
said.
These are the Army's stream.
lined divisions" which have a peace.
time strength of only $500 nner
each.
Gen. Marshall said that I'VE
should make the preliminary moves
in time to be prepared against the
unfortunate necessity Of definite
action"
''The War Department is opposed
to ordering the National Guard on,
for active duty" he continued, land