Evening star., 1945-09-11
TOTO SHOOTS SELF AS YANKS REACH DOOR
Senators Order
|nvestigdtionof
DemobiIization
Public Hearings to Be
Called; 'Bross Hats
In Army Criticized
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Senate Military Affairs
Committee today ordered an in
quiry into demobilization, criti-
cized by some members as NOV
ing too slowly
Senator Hill of Alabama, the
Democratic whip. said members
agreed to hold public hearings at
date to be fixed later by Chairman
Thomas of Utah.
Action came in a closed session
after Senator johnson. Democrat,
of Colorado had asserted in an inter
view that Army brass hats want
voluntary recruiting efforts to fail
because they love the draft"
100000 Still in Army.
The committee repeatedly received
figures from the War Department
indicating that 100000 persons
still were in the Army September /.
compared to a wartime maximum
only 100000 higher.
Without discussion. the commit
tee sent to subcommittee the nom
nations of % Army officers to
higher rank.
Most of these were assigned TO
group headed by Senator johnson,
who previously had complained to
reporters that the promotions indi-
Gated the Army intends to keep its
wartime strength as long as possible.
Declaring that the draft law
ought to be repealed Immediately,
Senator johnson said Congress must
act at once to speed up service re-
leases.
Sees Delay Tied to Jobs.
Senator Hill said he would de-
mand that War Department officials
justify before the committee in pub
lie hearings the Army's point re-
lease system.
The public is entitled to know
that the discharge system is the
most equitable that can be worked
out" Senator Hill declared. IF it
isn't, then it must be changed"
Senator Robertson, Republican, of
Wyoming asserted last night he be-
lieves the Army and Navy are un-
der administration orders to delay
discharges until war plant workers
can get new jobs.
I'm not blaming the Army and
Navy" Senator Robertson told a
reporter They have no alterna-
tive. If the present point discharge
system is the determined adminis-
tration policy, the Army and Navy
must obey orders"
War Workers Get Breaks.
He suggested that essential men
in uniform, sitting around in camps
doing nothing" be given an extern
siye furlough until they are ready
10 be discharged.
Let them 60 home and help" he
said. They won't be a burden on
the country. They've got good jobs
waiting for them"
He declared that if an unemploy-
ment problem arises in the near
future "the difficulty will be for
those who fought-not for those
who stayed at home"
Under the present discharge sys-
TENS" he said, the war workers
are getting all the breaks 1 can't
see it any other way"
Senator Maybank, Democrat, of
South Carolina, who said he re-
ceived 1000 letters in two days seek
ing service discharges, added that
he wants the Army to release at
once all doctors over 40 who want
to get out.
There was some sense to keeping
these doctors in when it was believed
we might have a million casualties
in fighting in China and Japan, but
not now" Senator Maybank de-
clared
Other members have heard from
their constituents. too. And Chair
man Thomas said the committee
probably will decide today what to
do about his recruiting bill.
The bill is planned to make re-
enlistment attractive. 1t would give
mustering-out pay, re-enlistment al
lowances, service credits, dependent
payments, furlough and travel pay
and retirement benefits to those who
elect to stay in uniform. It also
would extend to them coverage un-
der the GI bill of rights.