Evening star., 1940-07-13
Early Congress
Action Due on
National Guard
Calling Out Of 5000
For Active Service
Sought Promptly
By the Associated Press.

6y the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt's proposal to
put $4,000 militiamen in the field
for active service brought the con-
troversial subject of National Guard
mobilization back to the fore today.
The decision to recommend CALL
ing out almost one-fourth of the
total National Guard strength was
reached late yesterday by Mr..
Roosevelt and Henry L. Stimson. his
new Secretary of War. Congress
must approve before the plan can
be put into action.
With Congress in recess for the
Democratic National Convention,
there was no immediate comment
on Capitol Hill. However, when
Mr.. Roosevelt in a special message
on May 81 asked authority to mob
ilize the Guard for any defense
emergency, the request ran into q
barrage of criticism.
Years Training Period.
The White House announcement
yesterday said tentative plans were
to call out four of the Guards i8
divisions, seven anti-aircraft regi-
ments and an indefinite number of
Coast Defense units. Indications
were that a training period of per-
maps year was contemplated.
Earlier, at his press conference,
Mr.. Roosevelt had disclosed that
mobilization of the entire Guard
numbering 100000 citizen soldiers
was under consideration
Secretary Stimson, meanwhile. re-
ceived assurances from two high
militia officials that both the off,
GERS and men Of the Guard were
ready and willing" to 60 on active
service today, tomorrow, or any any
time"
The Army chief of staff, Gen.
George c. Marshall, gave his views
on the subject to the Senate Military
Affairs Committee. saying he ia
vored mobilizing the entire Guard
immediately" for training.
Congress will be asked to grant
the President the partial mobiliza-
ton authority as soon as it recon-
venes July 90 Under existing law.
the President can call out the Guard
only to meet threatened invasion
or to deal with insurrection or dis
order.
The House already has pending a
bill which would empower the Chief
Executive to use the Guard under
other defense circumstances. This
was introduced after he requested
such authority in his May 81 mes
sage and, although the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee recon-
mended its passage June 10, no
move has been made to call It up
for vote. ...
Request Called Shocking"
The May 81 request was called
Shocking" by Senator Vandenberg,
Republican, of Michigan. He said
Mr.. Roosevelt was speaking in
terms that are ominous to the coun-
try" Representative Fish, Repub-
Ican, of New York termed it grab
for power during a period of war
hysteria." Others used similar Ian.
guage. Among those who favored
active service to train the Guard,
there were several who objected to
delegating blanket mobilization pow.
er to the Chief Executive.
At the time, Gen. Marshall told
the House Military Committee that
the War Department backed Mr..
RooseVelt's request and guardedly
mentioned dangers that might be-
come serious, specifically with rela.
ton to the Panama Canal" The
Army's plan, it was reported, was to
use the Guard to relieve Regular
troops should an emergency require
their presence in the Caribbean area,
The disposition in informed quar-
tiers. however, was not to link the
Presidents partial mobilization pro-
posal to this testimony. Official
sources said the ultimate object
more likely was to get the Guard in
first-class condition to help handle
a compulsory military training pro-
gram, in event Congress enacts the
pending Burke -Wadsworth universal
service legislation.
Less Critical Reception.
Mr.. Roosevelt's new request NAV
receive less critical reception in
Congress than his earlier one, some
believed. 1t was pointed out that
the military situation abroad has
changed radically in the last six
weeks.
If the compulsory training bill Is
passed, the War Department wishes
to mobilize the entire Guard for "at
least a year." Drafted recruits
would be trained in the ranks of
the Regular Army and Guard, with
a total of 14l5,000 men in uniform
by next April.
Announcing the close of hearings
on the Burke -Wadsworth compulsory
military training bill, Chairman
Sheppard of the Senate Military AZ
fairs Committee said today he is
hopeful" the committee will report
out measure along its general lines.
Senator Sheppard said also he
would support whatever action is
necessary TO carry out the recon-
mendation of Gen. Marshall for
(See nETENSE pare A1nN