Evening star., 1945-09-19
DemobiIizution
Continued From First Page

tol Hill for:
l. Speedy release of millions from
the armed services and
2. A quick end to the draft.
Critics of the War and Navy De-
partment's present rehabilitation
plans were gleeful. Republicans
contended privately that the su-
preme Allied commanders an
nouncement had put the armed
services directly on the spot.
Senator Bridges, Republican, Of
New Hampshire told reporter the
Macarthur statement would force
the War Department to revise its
entire program"
Senator johnson, Democrat, Of
Colorado agreed that this lis bound
to make them turn the soldiers out
much faster"
Statement Pleases Truman.
1t became increasingly clear that
Gen. Macarthur made his an
nouncement without consulting
either the White House, the War or
State Departments.
w AiA4C AsAAs UOld LID llCW6
conference yesterday that he was
happy about Gen. MacArthur's s
statement, the Chief Executive dis
closed that he had no advance in
formation from the general.
The War Department, like the
State Department. got its first in
formation by reading the newspa-
pers. And both had evidenced con-
Germ over what they read.
The State Department worried
lest the announcement create an
impression abroad that the United
States intended to withdraw from
the Pacific at an early date, leav-
ing the Japanese to run their own
show.
Three Possible Complications.
From the War Department view
point, it was plain that Gen. Mac
Arthur's ideas about Army strength
might produce complications in
three fields:
/. The size of the postwar military
force.
2. The necessity for universal mil
itary service, and
3. The currently hot question Of
rehabilitation.
Congress took one step toward end
ing the draft yesterday when the
House unanimously passed a new
peacetime recruitment measure. BY
offering new inducements to Army
and Navy volunteers, the objective
is to attain postwar requirements
by voluntary means.
The measure now goes to the Sem
ate, where committee hearings open
today.
Backers of the plan think it has
so many inducements that a big
enough force can be mustered from
volunteers. The present peacetime
legal size of the Army is 280, 200. The
bill would blow off this ceiling until
the armed forces have shaken down
their occupation duties to a point
where a new fixed top can be set.
Represents Compromise.
/, The measure represents a compro-
mise in the thinking of Congress
toward the present selective service
system. One group wanted to get
rid of the draft as soon as VI day
arrived and still Is vocal about it.
Another wanted to bring back sll
veterans having certain amount
of service. Still a third wanted to
halt the induction of men under 81.
Some phases of the bill merely
bring Army inducements up to those
the Navy always has extended.
Notable among these is the privi-
lege of retiring after 20 years. The
Army limit was 30 years.
Other concessions to volunteers
include:
l. Travel pay for 90-day furloughs
for those who re-enlist.
2. Free mailing privileges.
3. Continued 20 per cent extra
pay for overseas service which here
tofore has been allowed only in
wartime
During debate, the House wrote
into the measure a provision per-
mitting those with six months
service to enlist for only one addi-
tional year. 1t had been two years.
Also tackled on was reduction in
the enlistment age from Is to II,
but here there was a qualification.
An enlistment can be annulled If a
parent who had not been consulted
objects.
Cash benefit also was provided.
Up to now, those enlisted men of
the three top grades who volunteer
for additional bitches had been al
lowed $50 for each year of active
duty since the last re-enlistment
date. Now this is extended to all
grades under commissioned officers.
The three lower grades had been
allowed only $25 before.