Evening star., 1941-07-20
Bv GOULD LINCOLN.

Chairman May of the House
Military Affairs Committee said
yesterday he would press in his
committee and in the House for
speedy action on the proposal TO
extend the period of service for
selectees, National Guardsmen
and Army ReserviStS beyond the
12-month period now set by law.
Personally and emotionally l
regret the necessity of holding the
draftees beyond the year" Repre-
sentative May said. But 1 agree
that it is necessary to put the de-
fense of the country above every
thing. I do not wish to disintegrate
the Army at time Of such emer-
gency. The drafteeS, the National
Guardmen and the ReserviStS have
been infiltrated into every unit of
the Army. 1t would be desperately
dangerous to withdraw them now"
Representative May said he would
take up with the committee Tues
day the procedure to be followed,
and that he hoped it would be pos
Sible to begin hearings promptly.
He said he hoped it would be pos
sible to have the measure ready for
report to the House by week from
tom0rrow, but foresaw the pos
sibility of weeks delay if the new
tax bill is given the right-of
in the House.
Others Desire Speed.
Members of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, among them
Senators Hill of Alabama and
Chandler of Kentucky, both Demo-
Gratis, also expressed a desire for
speed In disposing of the measure,
particularly in view of the state
ment made to the committee by
Gen. George C. Marshall, Army
chief of staff, that the "deadline"
for passage of the legislation is Au-
gust l, if the Army is not to be
handicapped in assigning troops to
far outposts like Alaska and the
Hawaiian Islands. 1t was pointed
out that if the legislation is we'll
under way by that time, with pros
poets of early final action, the situa-
ton will be well in hand But en-
phasis was laid on the need of
speed.
President Roosevelt remained in
Washington over the week end to
work on the message which he will
send to Congress this week recon-
mending the extension of the period
OF service for selectees, Reservists and
Guardsmen, constituting approxi-
mately two-thirds of the entire
Army. 1t was expected the message
would reach the Capitol by Tuesday.
Mr.. Roosevelt has not indicated
what the message will contain, be-
yond the fact it will support the
proposal for an extension, and that
it will not contain request for
authority to send the men affected
beyond the bounds of the Western
Hemisphere.
Strong Statement Hoped For.
Hope was expressed on Capitol
Hill and elsewhere that the Pres
ident would make strong statement
in his message of the needs for the
action recommended.
Republican leaders in and out of
Congress are, in many instances,
coming around to the opinion that,
in view of the strong statements
made by the military advisers, ma
tional defense requires the extension
of the period of service. While they
have split with the President on
occasion in regard to foreign policy.
they have been unit in support of
national defense.
Some of the isolationist members
of Congress, even though they in
tend to vote against the extension
of the period of service of selectees,
admitted yesterday the measure will
be passed.
Senator Wheeler. Democrat, of
Montana. leader of the forces de-
termlned to keep this country from
involvement in the European and
Asiatic wars, said he knew of no
intention on the part of any one to
conduct f1libuster against draft
extension and that he certainly
would not participate in a filibuster.
Meanwhile, Senator Nye, Republi-
can, of North Dakota asserted last
night that the administrations de-
sire to keep selectees in service
longer than a year lis indication of