Evening star., 1943-09-26
Wheeler Prepares
last-Ditch Fight 10
Bar Father Draft
Ry ]. A. O,LEARY.


Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana, was preparing last night
to 60 ahead with a last-minute
fight in the Senate Tuesday to post
pone the drafting of prewar faith
ers for three months. but all indi-
cations still pointed to defeat of the
bill If it goes to a vote.
With the father-draft order due
to take effect Friday, opponents of
the postponement effort may move
on or before that date to send the
bill back to the Military Affairs
Committee.
Senator Downey, Democrat, of
California, predicted yesterday that
many of the married men scheduled
to be called this fall will never see
war action, because he believes the
collapse of Germany will occur
within four months.
Cites Allied Air Raids.
Declaring that Allied air raids al
ready have inflicted great damage
on German war industries. the
Californian contended it is mathe-
matical fact that Berlin and other
Nazi cities could be leveled.
He suggested one possible obstacle
to his prediction, namely. if Ger
many should develop some new
antiaircraft weapon.
Some Senators were said to be
discussing, as an alternative to re-
committal, the possibility of obtain
ing an arrangement to drop the bill
II manpower officials would agree to
delay induction of fathers tempor-
srily, pending further efforts to get
the required number of men from
other categories. Senator Wheeler
has not committed himself on this
suggestion, however, and it appeared
to be only in the speculative stage.
AS a matter of fact, data sub
mitted by Selective Service officials
in the recent hearings indicated
that the estimate of 446,000 fathers
likely to be needed by December 81
was arrived at after allowing for
281 900 additional men becoming
available from 18-year- -olds and
through reclassification from other
categories.
Can Take Few 4-Fs.
1t was testified also that, while
the 3,412,000 in Glass 4-F are con-
stantly being reviewed, the posi-
bility OF recovering large number
from that group is not great, in the
light of present Army and Navy
physical standards. Military officers
took the position they have gone as
far as they should in relaxing physi-
cal standards.
Assuming Congress takes no action
TO defer fathers, when local boards
begin to go over the 5,586000 mar
ried men in Glass 3-A, Selective
Service officials have pointed out
several preliminary steps may elm
mate substantial number of them.
Up to now 1t has not been neces-
sary to consider the occupations of
these men. and some of them are
expected to be found entitled to
occupational deferment. Some 9TH
ers are likely to be moved down to
Glass Sd, as hardship cases.
II a father does not fall into
either of those categories, he still
will have to pass the local prelimi-
nary physical test and the Army
physical examination before he be-
comes available for induction.
Wheeler Hits Deferments.
Senator Wheeler declared last
night that if the administration sue
ceeds in defeating his bill, it will not
stop him from constantly calling
attention to draft deferments and
"the boarding of manpower by the
various Government bureaus, incIud-
ing the War Department itself"
Every one recognizes the fact