The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-24

 beph P. Kennedy.
 Stimson,s statement followed the testimony of Gen. George c. Mar shall before the house military af- fairs committee yesterday, at which he described as sabotage" alleged organized efforts to stimulate protest against Selectees being held in serv- Ice for more than a year.
 T think that Gen. Marshall dis cusSed this adequately" Stimson said, some matters, however, have come to my attention today, includ- ing two circulars franked by Sen. Wheeler"
 One of the circulars was received by Staff Sgt. William L. White, Company c, Eighth Infantry, Fort Benning, Ga, who sent 1t directly to Marshall. He said that he felt 1t his duty" to place this obnoxious piece" of mail in the hands of the high conn 1ahc, ard added that by mailing it to Marshall personally it shall not be intercepted.
 Officer and Soldier
 Another card was sent to the War Department by First Lieut. Alfred P. Herne, post adjutant, Fort McIn- toSh, Laredo, Tex, in which he cali ed attention to letter he had writ ten in reply to Wheeler.
 Herne told Wheeler that he is now on duty as an officer, having gwen up his civilian occupation because of the defense emergency. He add- ed that army regulations prohibit him from expressing political opill- ions or influencing legislation, if he had the time or inclination which Stimson said he had inquired into the matter, discovering that there had been 100000 of the cards printed by the Government Printing Omce. However, the cards bore the notation that they were not printed at the governments expense" Stimson's statement asserted that the circulars raised very serious question" He said that President Roosevelt for many months has pointed out to the public and con- eress, that this country confronts "very grave foreign danger" By the constitution the Presi- dent is the representative of the government and people of the Unit ed States, who deals with all foreign relations" he said.
 Commander -in- Chief
 He is also the Commander in- Chief of the Army. All information AS to foreign dangers comes through his hands and he is the one who Is supposed by tho constitution to have the best information on that subject"
 Stimson was asked If the War Department intends to seek legisla- tion to use troops outside the Vest ern Hemisphere. He said he felt that President Roosevelt's recent message to Congress was quite clear" on the matter, and that he did not care to amplify 1t. The Presi- dent did not request such legislation in his message.
 He was asked about published reports that time bomb had been discovered abroad ship at the Pan- anna Canal, which resulted in clos ing the waterway to Japanese ship ping.
 There was no such discovery of a bomb" Stimson replied. "The canal Is not closed to traffic. It Is being repaired, and this has caused the commanding general to restrict traf- flc."
 Gen. Marshall Answers Taft
 Washington, July 24-(UP)-Gen. George c. Marshall, army chief of staff, today opposed compromise proposal by Sen. Robert A. Taft, R., O., which would, in effect, permit selectees to leave the armed forces at the end of 16 months of train. ing.
 Tn letter to the Senate Military Affairs committee, Marshall warned that this government needs trained troops ready for service in any em- ergency and we are unable to de- tremine when and where such an emergency may arise"
 He said that Taft's. plan had great merit but only as long range plan for peace time procure nnent and training purposes" Taft offered the plan as a compromise for pending proposals for congress sional declaration of limited na- tional emergency to permit reten- ton of selectees, guardsmen and re- servists for the duration.
 Marshall said the present strength of the army, plus authorized and expected additions in the near fu- ture, is 100000.
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