Evening star., 1944-12-10
|Byrnes Orders
Draft Of More
Men 26 to37
Tire Industry Goes
On 7-Doy Week to
Meet Army Needs
By JAMES Y. NEWTON,


War Mobilization Director
Byrnes last night directed selec-
tive service to increase the
drafting of men between the
ages of 26 and 81 in a double
barreled effort to force regis
trants into essential work and
make way for the release of ad-
ditional skilled labor from the
armed forces.
The move was preceded by an
nouncement of war agency heads
that plants manufacturing truck
tires and tubes will go on seven-
day work week for four months in
an effort to meet the Army's heavy
demands. The decision was made
during meeting of rubber indus
try executives with 1t. Gen. Brehon
B. Somervell, head of Army Service
Forces.
Mr.. Byrnes' request to Selective
Service Director Hershey to step up
the calls for older men was tied di-
rectly to the Governments drive to
recruit 100000 men to war industry
and bring production of critical"
military supplies up to schedule.
Services Release Men.
He pointed out that the Army and
Navy already had released several
thousand men to help fill the exist
ing manpower shortage in critical
war plants" and added that "the de-
mands for such releases are increas-
ing" Mr.. Byrnes said the armed
forces need replacements for men
released and for others who may
have to be transferred to war
factories.
Mr.. Byrnes made no estimate Of
the number of older men to be in
Quoted under his plan, nor did he
say how many skilled workers in the
armed forces might be released.
The number released so far to such
critical industries as tire making,
foundries. West Coast aircraft and
copper mining was said by one
official mot to exceed $1,000"
I'm order that these men may be
replaced" Mr.. Byrnes said, ''it is
deemed necessary to increase the
number of calls by Selective Service
for men between the ages of Is and
81 who are not now doing their
part to contribute to the war
effort"
Few Over 80 Inductions.
Mrs Byrnes also asked Gen. Her.
shey to reclassify men in the 26-to.
81 age group who now have occupa-
tional deferment and who leave es-
sential industry. In recent months,
while men from 26 to 80 have con-
tinued TO be called, comparatively
few registrants over 80 have been
Iinducted.
| In addition to replacing skilled
men released to industry, Mr.
Byrnes' action also was designed to
stem the drift of workers from war
jobs into more permanent employ
ment in industries that will continue
1 operation in peacetime. This move
ment has been of the greatest con-
Germs of manpower officials charged
/ with filling requirements of stepped
1 up war programs.
More than 100000 men over 80
years of age are now serving their
country in the armed services" Mr..
Byrnes said, land, hence, it is not
too much to expect that all other
men in this age group not in the
armed services are prepared to con-
tribute to the war effort by working
in those industries which are essen
tial to the war effort"
In the move designed to increase
output of military truck and bus
tires. management pledged itself to
a seven-day week and promised fur
ther cooperation with employees in
a signed statement. Later, Sherman
H. Dalrymple, president of the
United Rubber Workers (CIO), ad-
dressed a statement to all union
members urging them to give all
out effort" in the campaign to stim-
ulate production.
Oficials Of the War Production
Board. Army, Ma. a..I War Man
r 1wer Srmmis" .on said h,at agres =
ment on the seven-day weeA ano
other cooperative matters had beer
, reached by the rTober industry anc
labor. AS result full work weeh
will be installed in the nearly two
score plants making truck, bus anc
jeep tires and tubes for 100 days
which is considered the critical
period of Army requirements fol
heavy tires.
, Although military tire production
(See MANPOWER, Page A-40