Evening star., 1944-03-29
Army and Navy
Back 4-Fs' Use
In War Plants
Oppose Creation Of
Work BottuIions' as
Unneeded Now
NEW POLICY for granting farm de-
ferments agreed on at Senate
subcommittee hearing. Page AS
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

The Army and Navy today
threw their weight behind the
movement to force $500, 900 men
between 18 and 81 who are UNIT
for military service into essen
tial civilian war work while
opposing the creation of work
battalions" on the grounds the
services already have all the
limited-duty men they can use.
Undersecretary of War Patterson
told the Costello Subcommittee Of
the House Military Affairs Commit
tee that the Army still favors broad
national service legislation, indicat-
ing. however, that if such a law
cannot be obtained the armed sery-
ices would be willing to settle for
limited national service which would
enable them to make full use of all
manpower under SO. Assistant Sec
retary of Navy Bard who also ap.
peared before the committee, con-
CURED with Mr.. Patterson.
Real Need in Factories.
Mr.. Patterson said the real man.
power need is in the Nations war
factories and mines, and that the
AIS would be of no use to the armed
services since I'VE already have
plenty of men for limited service"
He added that he favored any pro-
posal which might utilize the physi-
cally rejected young men in industry
as requirements for those now-
deferred workers under 26 who are
being called for combat duty.
The Undersecretary made clear,
however, that such a limited ma
tional service plan would not correct
all Of the manpower problems, since
there would be no control over
women workers and men above draft
age, adding that only such a broad
law as the Austin-W n-Wadsworth bill
would provide full solution for man.
power problems, which, he said,
will become even more acute later
in the year.
AS means of better utilizing the
services Of AIS, Mr.. Patterson sug-
gested that the Austin Wadsworth
bill be revised SO as to cover only
men from 18 through 81 who are
classified as unfit for military serv-
ice. He suggested that the assign
ment. OF men to essential activities
be under control of a director of
national service.
| Another Method Outlined.
As a secondary idea, Mr.. Patter-
son proposed that through extension
of the selective service mechanism
the 4-Fs not in war activity and
found by local boards to be qualified
for such activity would be inducted
and placed in an enlisted reserve.
AS the need for additional workers
In a particular locality became evi-
dent, such men would be directed by
their local boards to take employ-
ment in the activity while remain
ing IN civilian status and receiving
wages and other ordinary incidence
OF civilian employment"
i Under this second plan the men
VINO refuse to go into war work
would be called by the Army to ac-
tive military service and placed in
special labor units.
Both Mr.. Patterson and Mr.. Bard
/ told the Costello committee thew
, believed legislation would be re-
qulred to make full use of the 4-Fs.
Ihey believed bill introduced by
Representative Luce, Republican, OF
. Connecticut could be amended sat-
: lSfactorlly. Both officials said. how
! ever, they must give further study
to the Luce proposal.
Mr.. Patterson made clear that
II means are adopted to force 4-Fs
into war work, those men should not
5 be charged against the size of the
armed forces by the joint chief of
stan. He said there should be no
lrelaxatlon of the high military phys
lcal standards and there is no place
IN the Army and Navy, around hos
pltals or other installations, for men
OF this type" Mr.. Bard agreed with
all OF Mr.. Patterson's proposals.
Special Benefits Suggested.
The military officials said the
DEMENT'S for disability, hospitaliza-
ton and other such things which
are received by men in the armed
forces should not be extended to
!, those forced into industry or who
are placed in an enlisted reserve
, when they refuse to take essential
Jobs. The men channeled into war
, work should receive the same wages
!. and benefits as those with whom
,, they work. The officials added that
Congress might take steps to provide
special benefits for the enlisted re-
serve If such is set up.
For any successful use of 4-Fs in
war work, Mr.. Patterson said, there
must be amendment of the select
i've service amendment of Decem-
(See MANPOWER, Page A-5.)