The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-03
Army Chief Of Staff
 Points Danger Ahead
Continued from Page D

future. There are legal restrictions on the use of the armed forces. which should be removed without delay. Events of the past two months are convincing proof of the terrific power possessed by na- tion administered purely on a mil- itary basis. Events of the past few days are even more forcible indica- ttonS of the suddennesS with which conflict can spread to areas hither- to considered free from attack.
 Tt Is therefore urgently recom- mended that the war department be given authority to extend the period of service of the selective service men the officers of the reserve corps, and the units of the national guard
 Asserting our interests are "im- periled" in the present world situa- tion, Marshall simultaneously asked that legal restrictions on the use of the armed forces should be removed to prevent hamstringing the de- yelopment of the army into a force immediately available for whatever defense measures may be necessary"
 Under present law, the army can- not use. selectees, national guards men, or reserve officers called to &C., tive duty outside the western heml- sphere.
 Involved In Confusion
 So we have become involved in 6 complete confusion of restrictive de- tails regarding personnel" Marshall said. Add to this problem the fact that plans for large units must cover every conceivable contingency, based on the means available, that time is required to prepare such force; and that under present conditions we must submit these plans to the time consuming business of public investigation and debate-along with the advertisement of such plans to the world at large, and I submit that the limitations referred to should be removed as quickly as pos sible if we are to have a fair op- portunity to protect ourselves against the coldly calculated, secret and sudden action that might be di- rected against Us.
 Incidentally. our history in- cludes some unfortunate incidents resulting from quite similar legal difficulties, which risks a battle or possibly a campaign. In the pres ent crisis, the risks to the nation are far more serious"
 Whatever we do for the national defeESe should be done in the most efficient manner" Marshall said. Differences of views regarding na- tional policy, should not, 1t seems, be permitted to obscure the facts relating to the preparation of the armed forces for service, which has been the purpose of our vast pro- gram the past 12 months. When and where these forces are to serve are questions to be determined by their commander n-chief and the Congress and should not be con- fused with the problem of their readiness for service"
 Marshall said 1t is the War De- partment's intention to proceed with the training of annual in- crementS of selectees and to re- place those now on active service especially the older men-as soon as the situation permits.
 Tn general, the same intention pertains to the reserve officers who we wish gradually to replace with others who have mot yet been brought into active service" Mar shall continued. However. g fixed rule cannot be applied at this time, in our opinion. Some are in Ha- wah, some in the Aleutian islands, others in units to be dispatched to overseas bases, and still others gre in organizations to be trained 'as task forces for possible specila op- eratiolS.".
 Army Increases
 ha slsalTs report said the army has be.n increased eight-fold over a year ago, and comprises approxi- mately 100000 men. The ground forces in continental United States. he continued, form four armeis of nine army corps and 20 divisions, and an aI1nored force of 4 divisions, soon to be increased to 6. The air force includes 5z combat groups, whose initial equipment require Inents will be met with stocks now on hand or on order.
 The strength of the army is now allocated approximately as follows: 456,OOO men t6 the go divisions of the field army; 4S,0OO men to the armored force; S0s,00O men to some 2l5 regiments or similar units of field and anti-ailrcraft units, en-