Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-21
Farm State Senator'S
Press Demands for
Cut in Army's Size
Bonkheod, BushfieId
Want Force Trimmed
To Fit Supplies
BY the Associated Press.

BY tho Associated Press.
Farm-State members of Congress,
not entirely appeased by a White
House agreement that troops might
help harvest crops, pressed demands
yesterday for a limited Army, with
Senator Bankhead, Democrat, of
Alabama saying its size must be
tailored to fit food and munitions
production.
That would be "the common
sense, practical solution Of our man.
power problem" Senator Bankhead
said in radio address.
Similarly Senator Bushfield, Re-
publican, of South Dakota declared
the War and Agriculture Depart
ments must get together and limit
the armed forces to a size Ameri-
can farms can feed.
Food Shortage Feared.
without that immediate co-or-
dination and immediate provision
for farm manpoWer within the next
two weeks through temporary fur
loughs, Senator Bushf1eld told re-
porters, America faces a food short
age that will require more than dis
cussion to overcome"
On the other side of the Capital
the House Military Affairs Commit
tee formally reported the Kilday
bill, which War Department Off
Gals opposed, to give family men
mandatory draft deferment and put
draft quotas on Statewide basis.
Prepared by Chairman May and
Representative Kilday, Democrat, of
Texas, the report declared lit would
be injurious to the welfare of our
country to have local draft boards
feel that men with families can be
freely indicted into the armed
services"
Chairman Fulmer of the House
Agriculture Committee, sponsor of
a measure to furlough soldiers for
farm work, indicated that he was
satisfied with assurance from Presi-
dent Roosevelt that the matter
could be handled by executive order.
Bankhead to Push Bills.
Senator Bankhead, who talked
with the President yesterday as did
Mr.. Fulmer, announced, however,
that he would proceed with his two
bills, one providing compulsory de-
ferment of farm labor and the other
directing compulsory furloughs I'M
til January, 1914, of all experienced
farm hands now in uniform and
stationed in the United States.
In his radio address Senator
Bankhead said reports of the Ameri-
can setback in Tunisia indicated
our soldiers were at a great dis
advantage and thousands have lost
their lives because of the lack of
adequate and effective war equip
ment."
Whether that sad catastrophe
has resulted from a shortage of
shipping facilities or insufficient
production Of needed fighting equip
ment, the consequences are the
same he continued. The lesson
is more production-more production
| of all the needed implements of
war"
Million Casualties Seen.
On the basis of Official estimates
Of total of about 100000 men
in the armed forces at the end of
1943, Senator Bankhead figured this
would include about 100000 called
to replace those eliminated
through casualties and attrition. "
The time has arrived" he de-
clared, when some decision should
be reached on whether the United
States is in a position to raise
armed forces as large as any coun-
/ try in the world, except Russia, and
at the same time provide both an
abundant arsenal and overf1owing
! granary for our Allies.
Can that be done without de-
stroying the morale of our people
Nothing could be more dangerous
or more destructive TO our war eff
! fort than placing a burden on peo-
| pie which they are unable to carry