Evening star., 1942-10-24
Showdown Near
On 18-19Draft
Training Issue
Administration Forces
Call Reinforcements:
Close Fight Seen
BY the Associated Press.

=
Administration leaders hastily
summoned reinforcements today
in an effort to beat off a power
full attempt in the Senate to COM
pei a years training before 18
and 10 year old youths could be
sent into combat.
Facing possible defeat despite the
publicly expressed opposition of
President Roosevelt against any
amendment to the teen age draft
bill, the administration lieutenafts
prepared to fight a delaying action
until several absentees could arrive
later in the day for the usual Sat-
urday session.
Their hope of success was buoyed
by reports that seven potential sup
porters OF the amendment had gone
home overnight to patch political
fences and transact other business
and were not likely to be present
for a test vote on a proposal by
Senator ODaniel, Democrat, OF
Texas.
Final Vote Possible Today.
Action on the O'Daniel amend
ment or some similar proposal was
expected to clear the way for a final
vote on the measure, possibly before
nightfall.
Senator ODaniel proposed that no
Quoted into the armed forces should
be placed in actual combat duty
beyond the territorial boundaries Of
continental United States until af-
ter he had at least one years mill
tary training following his induc-
ton"
There was possibility that this
amendment would be abandoned in
favor of proposal by Senator Nor
ris, Independent, of Nebraska, stipu-
lating a similar training period for
all selectees under 10 years old.
Adoption of either amendment
was expected to delay final congress
sional approval of the legislation
lowering the minimum draft age
from 20 to 18, since a majority of
House members, who rejected SIM
liar proposals, has gone home to
campaign for reelection.
An administration attempt was
reported to have been made for
compromise On a six months train
ing period, but this proposal was
quickly rejected.
Hill Assails Compromise Plan.
| Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala.
bama said such compromise would
not solve the Armys administrative
difficulties. even If it were accept
able. Neither, he said, could the
Army place 18 and 10 year olds in
separate divisions, since its aim was
to integrate them with veterans in
| existing or newly formed units.
Leaders were disappointed at the
Senate's reaction to letter from
President Roosevelt to Senator Cur
ney, Republican. of North Dakota,
opposing any restrictive amend
ments.
1T appeared to me-" the President
wrote Senator Gurney, that the
complicated administration neces-
Sarily involved in the handling Of
large numbers of men by the Army,
as we'll as the urgent necessity for
correcting the present deficiencies
as to age, make it important that
limitations other than those now
included in the bill be avoided"
Senator Gurneys reading of the
letter in the Senate yesterday was
followed by veritable broadside
Of approval for the training amend
ment by Senator after Senator.
Gen. George C. Marshall, Army
chief of staff. insisted in a letter
also read by Senator Quincy that
if The amendment were adopted, the
Army would have to put thousands
and thousands of men on the shelf
after their essential training had
been completed
Norris Quotes Army Officials.
Senator Norris countered with the
assertion that Army officials had
said it would take IL months to train
jnductees, but Senator Taft, Re-
publican, of Ohio contended the
Army had mot the slightest inten-
ton" If training men that long be-
fore it sent them abroad
Senator Norris said that while he
believed an army of 18 and 10 year
old men could beat ANY army on
earth, our military men have been
telling us for years that in order to
get a good army the men must be
we'll trained. 1t usually has been
said that a years training is the
very minimum.
Nov the same men who have
been telling us all along that a
years training is necessary say they
don't want this amendment in the
bill-don't want any restrictions.
1T may be that they plan to give
these boys a year or more training.
But there is universal idea
throughout the country among the
mothers that these boys may be put
into combat service with less than
(See DRAFT, Page A-4)