Evening star., 1942-10-14
Army Of 100000
Is Goal for 1943,
,Sfimson Testifies
r. Release of Older Men
Under Consideration,
Gen. Marshall Says
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n Continued From First Page.)
Americas Army now is trained TO
q war maneuver."
- Questioned by Hill.
- Questioning by Senator Hill
Democart, Alabama, developed Gen
Marshall's views as to the posi-
tility of releasing older men from
combat duty.
fs Asked by Senator Hill whethe.
Massage of the 18-19-year-old bill
kFould take the strain off the oldel
hnen with dependents" the genera
Maid he believed so.
4 I am looking into 1t to see what
I'VE can do about getting them bacl
Home" he said, mot only about get.
fling them back, but how quickly W.
Fan get them back"
I Gen. Marshall said the average
sage of new divisions now being
horned and trained advanced rapid
~, citing as an instance one division
which had an average age of 2t
syears in June, 81 years in July ano
80 years in August
! Even in amphibious divisions
! which will be called on to do what
he described as toughest kind OF
! fighting" he said he had found 49,
! year-old privates.
! Modern fighting demanded vigor-
Gus, aggressive soldiers who can
keep it up" Gen. Marshall testi-
ied, adding:
"You can't fight the battle today
and rest tomorrow nowadays"
\ Opposes Mays Proposal.
I Secretary Stimson opposed pro-
, vision of the bill introduced by
Chairman May requiring that men
inoucted from the 18 and 10 year
groups be given IL months of train
ing before being sent into combat
While the Army program normally
calls for at least year of training,
he explained. unexpected emergen-
cies" might require shortening of
this period.
Mr.. Stimson said he had no objec-
ton to granting deferment to high
school students called up for the
draft during their academic year,
provided the deferment did not ex-
tend beyond the end of the school
year. He added he did not believe
the blanket deferment should be
given to all college students.
When Mr.. May asked why the de-
partment wanted more teen-age SOL
diers in this war than it had in the
last war, Mr.. Stimson pointed out
that the last war lasted only five
months after United States troops
got into combat, and asked:
do you think it is going to last
five months from the time our troops
actually get into battle?"
,--N No one replied.
! HERSHEY to Follow Stimson.
Mr.. Stimson was to be followed by
Mai. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey. selective
service director, and Gen. Marshall.
They. said Chairman May, were
the only witnesses the House COM
nlittee planned to question.
, "There is no need for prolonged
hearings" Chairman May said.
"T1e President, who is Commander
in Chief, has stressed the necessity
of drafting 18 and 19 year olds and
for one am going to cooperate
with him 100 per cent"
! Following the speedy pace set by
the House leadership, the Senate
! was expected to revise plans an
nounced earlier by Chairman Rey-
nolds of it's Military Affairs Com
nittee to hold hearings for four or
five weeks. Among the first witnesses
called for today's Senate Commit
tee session were Gems. Marshal and
Hershey.
Apprised of the House program,
Senators predicted the legislation
would reach the White House by the
end of next week and would be
signed Immediately by the Presi-
dent.
New Propasal Offered.
While both the Senate the House
committees have had pending bills
to lower the draft age, Mr.. May late
yesterday offered new proposal,
which, he said, would be the one
considered by the House committee.
1t contained two provisions ex-
pected to be opposed by Army and
Selective Serevice officials.
One would grant deferment until
the end of the academic year for
any student in a high school or
similar institution of learning who
is ordered to report for induction
during his academic year.
The other would forbid the assign
ment of draftees under 20 to COM
bat service until they had received
at least IL months of military train
ing.
Emphasizing that it was my own
Idea and not the War Depart
ment's." Mr.. May said the latter
clause was put into the bill in order
to open the way to questioning
witnesses regarding the training
program.
Report Today Possible.
Mr.. May told reporters after con-
ferring with President Roosevelt at
the White House shortly after noon
today that his committee would
probably report the bill this evening
or tomorrow without any restriction
of use of the teen age troops.
Mr.. May said Secretary Stimson's
objection to the restriction on the
length of training time had about
convinced" him that it should not be
written into the law.
ct think it is bad military practice
to put restrictions on military opera
tions," Mr.. May said, land we prob
ably will have to rely on the judg-
ment of the military leaders in
charge"
He added. however, that no OBJ
lection had developed to a proposal
to permit high school students
called up under the act during their
last year of school to finish the
term before going into the Army.
He predicted the House would