The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-19
there when theY left.

Marshall's proposals to exp there when they left.
 The President adroitly disarmed them at the start by declaring flatly that an A. E. F. lis the far- thest thing from my mind" He and Marshall then followed up with some telling arguments on why selectees should be retained in the army. When they fin- islled talking, the legislative chiefs obviously were impressed.
 Roosevelt categorically denied that he had any intention of sending troops outside the Vest ern Hemisphere. At the same time he admitted that he did not con- slider Iceland, the Azores and Cape Verde Islands wholly within the hemisphere. Asked if he con. templated sending troops to these places, the President made this reply:
 In all probability some sole dierS will be needed in Iceland to supplement the naval force already there. No move will be made to occupy the Azores or Cape Verde Islands unless Hitler selxeS Portugal. Should that happen, 1t would be suici- dal for the United States not to take the same protective ac- ton as was done in Iceland.
 Grimly, the President pointed out that Nazis entrenched on the two strategic insular points would be able to dominate the Atlantic.
 Another argument which made a sTr,ng Impact was some start ling information concerning the Nazi infiltration in South Amer ica.
 The President stated that Nad agents have organized secret armies" in several Latin Arneri- can countries to incite revolutions and border wars and disrupt hemi- spheIic solidarity. He declared there were reliable reports that the Nazis have @ secret army of 100000 men irl Brazil.
 This is 600,000 more than our own army, the President pointed out, and gives the lie to Hitler's assertion that he has no designs on this hemisphere if he con- quers Britain.
 WRECKED DEFENSES"
 General Marshall quietly but with great earnestness warned the congressional leaders that the aa- tion's major defenses in Hawaii, the Philippines, Alaska and the Atlantic bases would be wrecked" unless civilian soldiers are re- tained in the service.
 "About S5 per cent of the
 troops in some outlying bases
 are National Guardsmen, seIec-
 tees and reservists," Marshall
 said. "You can well imagine the
 spot we will be in if these men
 have to leave when their year
 is up and are replaced by raw,
 untrained recruits. Our 0ffshOre
 defenses would be unable to withstand attack if any were at-
 temped.
 If Congress cannot realize the extreme gravity of this situAsion, 1" Marshall continued, then all I can say, gentlemen, is that the army should be relieved of re- sponsibility for the safety of the country and its citizens"
 Speakers Sam Rayburn, House Democratic Leader John McCor- mack and Senate Foreign Rela- tions Committee Chairman Wall ter George replied that they fully grasped the danger, but that Q majority of Congress was opposed to prolonging the draft period be- yond year. As a compromise, Raybuyn and Mccormick proposed that selectees be allowed to vol- unteer for additional service.
 General Marshall firmly reject- ga this. Tie declared that "the times are too periIous" to de- pend on an army of volunteers. You cannot meet the danger Of modern warfare" he said, with makeshirt expedients. The world IS menAced by an army Of pro- fesslonals. If we value our se- clllity, we can't afford to risk it With an army of amateuFs."
 The President bneked ID Mar. shalls and the conference ended wath e general agreement Co hold public committee hearings 0n the proposal e retain hearings on the fks then sec ll0w sentiment shapra fp tzlafe iak'Ns t'ss |zs'e iN f|Ia