Evening star., 1941-07-28
BY the Associated Press.

power to keep Army men in service
for an indefinite period:
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Of
movement, said several substitute
plans would be considered in the
next few days at informal meetings
of administration opponents. There
were some signs, however, of dimin-
fishing senatorial opposition to the
extension legislation, in connection
with the tense Far Eastern situa-
ton.
Senator Wheeler suggested that
an alternative program should be
considered under which, he said,
the Nation could build profess
sional Army, with high morale" He
proposed that selectees and enlist
ed men be paid minimum Of 500
a month-s30 in cash and $40 in
Government bonds, the latter re-
deemable when the men were dis
charged.
That would make men want to
enlist in the Army" Senator Wheeler
declared, "and draft would not be
necessary"
However, one Republican Senator,
who asked anonymity, said he was
prepared to reverse his previous po-
Sition and support the service ex-
tension legislation il 1t appeared
that American possessions were
threatened by Japan's moves in In
do-China. Several other Senators
said they were reserving their deci-
sions until the Far Eastern situation
became more clarified.
Senator Wheeler expressed his op-
position to a provision of the pend
ing legislation, approved Saturday
by the Senate Military Committee,
which states that the national in
terest is imperiled. The measure
also would permit the President to
hold the armed forces in service
until he. or Congress by concurrent
resolution, decided they were no
longer needed.
The Montana Senator said that
factory workers making shells, tanks
and other Army equipment were re-
ceiving a minimum average of $50
a month while the boys who are
supposed to shoot the shells and
drive the tanks are getting $2l a
month"
The military committee voted, 8
to /, to report the service extension
legislation. Chairman Reynolds was
the single dissenter.
Declaration Called Path to War.
In effect, Senator Reynolds said
In a statement the measure was
notice to the world that Congress
has authorized the preparation OF
the armed forces of the United
States to enter the present world
war as an active, participating ally
of Russia and Great Britain" Sen
ator Reynolds added:
This declaration OF a national
emergency . is simply a declara-
ton of authority to prepare the
armed forces of the United States,
not for defense, but of offense . 80 l
do not believe that our national
interest is imperiled or will be i'm
periled, since the armies of the
world are apparently destroying one
another, unless we continue the pol
Icy of challenging certain nations of
the world to conflict"
Saying in his statement that he
assumed Congress would approve
the resolution, Senator Reynolds
added, II rather suspect the next
fateful step will be another reso-
luton containing request for
authority to send our soldiers out
side the Western Hemisphere"
Asserting that there were now
approximately 100000 selectees in
the armed forces, the Military Com
mittee chairman said:
"If we dismiss these 100000 selec-
tees from time to time as their
IL months service expires, as pro-
vided by the Selective Service Act
of 1910, and substitute them with
300 900 selectees as authorized under
the Selective Service Act, we will
then have approximately 100000
men in the armed forces of the
United States, exclusive of the Navy
the Marines and the Coast Guard
and other auxiliaries of national
defense forces"
He added that Gen. George C
Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, hac
told Congress that only 1,70000C
men were needed to defend the
Western Hemisphere.
Van Nuys Reveals Position.
Senator Van Nuys, Democrat, o
Indiana, like Senator Reynolds, ;
member of the Foreign Relation
Committee, made public form let
ter saying that extension of the one
year training period for selectee
would be "a breach of good faith
upon the part of the Government.
The letter is being sent to thoS'
asking Senator Van Nuys' position
on the draft extension.
The measure also provides for tn
release of men who had reache,
II6lI zOIll Ull tl1lldy DClOlC Ouly
l94l, and would authorize the Sec
retary of War to release from activ
service men whose retention in tn
ranks might work undue hardship
On them.
Meanwhile, selective service ofh
eials continued indefinitely thei
policy of deferring the induction c
men % or older, pending action b
Congress on the legislation.
Several members of the Mllltar
Affairs Committee declared ther
was nothing in the service extensio
proposal which would revoke tn
present ban against sending sc
iectees, National Guardsmen and re
serves out of the Western Hem
sphere. but Senator McCarral
Democrat, of Nevada contended sue
a restriction should be written int
the measure to prevent "anothe
T. r."