Evening star., 1943-09-20

demands from various theaters of
war
These troops are all on demand
for certain times and Places he
said. I'VE do not want to use hastily
gathered people We had to do that
in the early part of the war. but
thank God we do not have to do
that now"
Delay Most Serious"
Senator Austin, Republican, OF
Vermont asked what effect deferrine
OF preWar fathers until January
would have on the timing of the
high commands plans.
Gen. Marshall replied that would
have to be answered by the Wal
ManpoWer Commission, which has
the responsibility of filling military
calls. Senator Austin said it could
be assumed manpower officials have
said they cannot fill the quotas
without 446,0o0 fathers by Decem-
Der 81.
IF they report they cannot meet
the demand, then it would be most
serious" Gen. Marshall answered.
Speculation Dangerous.
Senator DoWney, Democrat, OF
California asked if it would not be
possible to cut Army calls now by
100000 without affecting the mill
tary plans overseas until 1945.
I don't think So Gen. Marshall
replied. Because by the end of
1914 we would have moved out of
the United States practically all the
lighting men. 1t would mean that
that many divisions comprising
100000 mem would not sail in the
fall of 1914. That would be specu-
latlng on an early end of the war
as has been done by some on the
radio and in the press. That specu-
latlon would be dangerous thing. II
Gen. Marshall added that the aim
and hope of the Army is that the
fight will so develop as to make it
unnecessary to send as many divi-
slons as now planned overseas.
II this hope is realized, he said
we can quickly demobolize, but if
1t doesn't we cannot improvise."
No Right to Emotions.
If 1t comes to emotions, we in
the War Department don't have the
right to emotions" Gen. Marshall
said. I'VE have some 7OO,O 900 fathers
in the Army now. What happens to
them?"
The general reiterated previous
assertions that men over SO are a
burden"
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana, said IAN Army captain
told me the other day you could get
a military division out of the Penta-
gon Building"
Your captain is entirely wrong ;
Gen. Marshall replied adding that
every effort is made to eliminate
unnecessary personnel in this coun-
try.
Earlier, Gen. Marshall said he
speaks as citizen, not as Chief of
Staff. when I DISCUSS the question
OF whether only bachelors shall wage
war"
Senator Wheeler said it isn't just
question of only having bachelors
wage war, but what effect will it have
on morale at home, if a wife has to
go to work in a factory and let her
children run the streets
Single Men Happier Soldiers.
Senator Hill, Democrat. of Ala
bania said a colleague had suggested
to him that IF we don't give you the
reserve you need now it would be
ike Congress ringing the gong Just
when you are ready to deliver the
knockout blow"
Senator Downey asked Gen. Mar
shall if man would make a good
soldier If he was thinking about a
wife and child at home trying tc
live on the present allotment of S62
month.
Gen. Marshall agreed it has been
simpler for the Army to handle
single men, and told the Senator
that if the 100000 men needed can
be obtained without injuring pro-
duction of war supplies. single men
would make happier soldiers.
He made it clear, however, he
would not favor taking men where
it would slow down production.
Gen. Marshall said the plans of
the Combined Chiefs of Staff were
based on the assumption the United
States will come across with its
commitments"
Can't Sacrifice Production.
Senator Austin asked about the
advisability of taking trained single
men from aircraft and other indus
tries.
That would be serious" Gen
Marshall replied, "A collapse in ag-
riculture would be serious. A COL
lapse in the aircraft industry might
be even more serious You can eat
less, but you can't operate half ar
airplane."
Senator Bridges, Republican, OF
New Hampshire, asked why the
Army previously had cut back its
1914 goal from 100000 men to T.
100000. In reply Gen. Marshall said
that eight months ago he began to
rearrange and consolidate, to en-
force economy in manpoWer. Pos
session of Dakar and Morocco, he
explained, changed requirements in
the South Atlantic theater with the
result that Panama ground troops
had been reduced and training units
sent there.
The Army was able to cut its di-
vislonal setup, Gen. Marshall con-
tinued, when all went we'll on the
Russian front in the summer cam
paign. He added that while service
forces and air force overhead hao
been cut down, there was a demand
for air force mechanics which de-
layed the activation of some units.
This reduction was not due te
outside pressure" the general said
adding that the general staff was
aware of such pressure.
Know Better in December.
Gen. Marshall said that as faI
as he could tell now, the Armys goa.
would remain 100000 men through
1Q4d "hIlt T ror, foil va, ,,,aro ko,,,