Evening star., 1941-07-25

On Extension
ArmyDuty
Senators Proposal
Seeks Declaration
Of Peril to Nation
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press
Members of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee we're reported
today to have agreed informally on
the general terms Of resolution BY
which Congress would declare q
limited emergency under which Sc
lectees. National Guardsmen and
reserves could be retained in active
Army service beyond the present
one-year limit.
Senator Lee, Democrat, of Okla
homa told reporters when he came
out of a closed session that count
of nose" within the committee had
disclosed no opposition to a pro-
poSal under which Congress would
be asked to find that the national in
terests were imperiled
Senator Lee predicted that a re-
vised version of the bill To be con-
sidered by the committee this after
noon would not disturb present pro-
hibitions in the laws against the
sending Of selectees, guardSmen and
reserves outside the Western Hemi-
sphere.
Limitation Not Discussed.
The question Of placing some time
limitation on the operation of the.
emergency powers had not yet been
discussed, he said, expressing the be-
lief, however, that the authority
would be permitted to continue until
Congress or the President found
that the emergency had ended.
Meanwhile, Maj Gen. Milton A.
Reckord, commander of the 29th d.
vision, testified that 90 per cent Of
the men and all the officers IN his.
division were in favor of extended
military service IF the need exists %.
Frankly. I think the need exists"
he told the House Military Affairs
Committee.
Gen. Reckord said he believed the
Nation was in grave peril and as
serted he thought the way to solve
the problem was for Congress tn
declare national emergency and
give the President the right 10 re-
tain selectees and National Guards
men beyond one year.
Don't tie the hands OF The War
Department in this sItus ton" ne
urged, advocating also that people
stop writing foolish letters on the.
subject
Asked whether he knew OF anv
high officials circulating the men
in his division to oppose extension
of service, Gen. Reckord said he
knew only what he had read about
the matter. At that point, he said
he thought it was IAN absurd situs-
/ ton when a group spreads propa-
ganda and urges people TO write
letters opposing the proposed eX-
tension Of military service.
Willing to Compromise.
Earlier, administration leaders had
made known willingness 10 COM
promise on a one-year extension of
military service for selectees. Ma
tional Guardsmen and Reserves. If
they were convinced such move
would increase congressional support
for legislation to keep the present
Army intact.
Senator Hill OF Alabama. the
Democratic whip, told reporters he
would offer no objection to "rea-
sonable" restriction on the addi-
tional time citizen soldiers might
be called on TO serve over the
present one-year limit.
IF we can unity support behind
this measure" he said, Il would
be willing TO accept limitation of
one year on additional service for
these men. We want to see this
bill passed by the greatest possible
margin for its psychological effect
both at home and abroad"
Senator Hills statement lent i'm
petus to a move by two other Mill
tary Committee members, Senators
Austin, Republican. OF Vermont.
and Quincy, Republican. of South
Dakota, to write time clause into
pending resolutions.
Senator Austin, acting minority
leader, said he favored a one-year
extension. but Senator Gurney sug-
geSted that it might be we'll to
permit operation of the proposed
legislation to continue until June
80, 1943
On the other hand Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Utah said
he thought the Army ought to be
authorized to retain the services of
the citizen soldiers as long as the
emergency might last and Military
(See DRAFT, Page A-3J