Evening star., 1941-12-10
Johnson Of California
Blocks Prompt End
Of Troop Restrictions
Objection Delays Bill
To Permit Dispatch
Outside Hemisphere

immediate consideration by the Sem
ate today of the bill to permit
American land forces to be sent be-
yond the Western Hemisphere and
insular possessions in the prosecu-
ton of the war.
Unanimous consent was necessary
because the bill had just been re-
ported from the Military Affairs
Committee and, under the rules,
would have to lie over one day unless
the Senate as a whole agrees to
waive the rule.
The objection came after the
measure had been debated for near
ly half an hour.
johnson Explains Action.
Senator Johnson told newspaper
men later he had objected because
the bill calls for an A. E. F. as I
understand it and I haven't studied
it, I want time to study it"
He added that Il want to keep
the Presidents promises" He ex-
planned he had reference to prom
ises the President had made again
dlld again tlldt fliilOi ASoiio "oS%4b
never be required Ito fight on for
eign soil" One of his interviewers
said his recollection was the Presi-
dent had referred to ANY foreign
war"
The California Senator was asked
If he thought the Japanese attack
was sufficient to justify a change in
the Presidents promise.
mo, I don't think so,' he an
swered, but if it be sufficient there
is time to determine that. We don't
need to run it through in quarter
of day"
House leaders had hoped to call
the measure up and pass 1t tomor-
row.
Unanimously Backed by Committee.
Chairman Reynolds of the Military
Committee had informed the Sem
ate of the unanimous approval given
the bill yesterday afternoon by II
of the 18 committee members who
we're present and had asked for
prompt action with the statement:
1T is obvious that the efficient
prosecution OF the war requires the
lifting of these restrictions.
! He had reference to the clause in
| the 1910 Selective Service Act, for
bidding the President to send land
forces overseas, except to such island
possessions as the Philippines.
In a move to make the fullest USE
OF its manpower. Congress sent tc
the President yesterday a bill freez-
! ing naval enlistments and those o.
men in the land forces for 81,
months beyond the end of the war
Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, ma
tional selective service director, sale
reclassiflcation of selectees who hac
been given occupational deferment'
was under consideration, and thai
later the reclassification of men de.
ferred because Of dependents NIGH
be discussed.
May Doubts Age Changes.
Although Gen. Hershey said there
was a strong possibility" that Con
gress would lower the draft ag,
minimum from 81 TO 10, Repre-
sentative May deprecated the likeli'
hood ,of such a change.
II don't think there will be any
such step soon, maybe not at all,
the Kentuckian said. There is NJ
sentiment for such a change in tn,
committee. OF course. in q long wal
anything is possible"
He said that If any change IL
the present registration limits of q
| through IS became necessary, h,
thought it more likely that th'
maximum might be raised to som,
extent.
Gen. Hershey spoke of the pos.
sibilty of calling up men of 28 o.
over, who, under the revised Sc.
lective Service Act, were deferred
from call or released if already in.
Quoted.
Chairman May of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee pointed ou
that the Army has an additiona
reservoir of a million men each yea
the youngsters who reach the agt
Of 81.
| There is another pool Of approx
mately 1000, 900 men presently avail
able-men who received IA clas-
siflcations after registration, bu
who have not been called up.
After Congress made % the new
top age limit for selectees the Army
began releasing men over that ag'
who already had been inducted
They numbered about 10000, ant
although the Army has now halte,
all discharges, the order was ex
pected to make little difference II
this group, whose release was sched
uled for completion today. Mos
Of them already have gone home.
They are still enlisted Reserve.
however, and as such subject to re
call for active duty at any time.
Convalescents to Go.
Selective service officials said con
gressional action would be necessar
to permit IA classification of reg
istrants in the 28-through-35 ag
group, but from 900 900 men deferre
for subpar physical condition abou
100000 were expected to be reclassi
fed as la as a result of rehabilita
ton work.
How rapidly new selectees will b
ordered to report for induction prob
} ably will be governed by future de
velopments in the war, and by tn
speed with which camps are bull
| &e Al a