Evening star., 1945-09-18
DemobiIizution
Continued From First Page J

er's observation caught officials
completely by surprise.
So surprised were State Depart.
rent bigWigS. in fact that Acting
Secretary Dean Acheson let it be
known publicly that he was at
tempting to find out more about the
generals statement.
The departments chagrin stem
med from official concern lest Gen
MacArthur's assertion might lead tc
an impression abroad that this
country was planning an early with
drawal from the Pacific, thus leav-
ing japanese affairs largely in their
own hands.
This would be counter to the gen.
erally-held belief here that the
United States intended long-range
occupation of Japan with little il
any assistance from the major
Allies.
Hence the possibility. voiced ir
some quarters, that Mr.. Truman
might be called on to review the
entire occupation picture and re-
solve any conflict in views,
Helps Quiet Clamor.
Gen. MacArthur's occupation
views helped quiet the hue and cry
on Capitol Hill for a cut in draft
calls. Most members of Congress
took the view that the indicated re-
duction of 100000 men in the latest
and most optimistic previous esti-
mate of occupation needs would
have a twofold result: Fewer in
ductions and more men eligible for
discharge.
Meanwhile, Gen. George C. Mar
shall. Army Chief of Staff, took
cognizance of the mounting criticism
in Congress. 1t was arranged for
Gen. Marshall to discuss demobiliza-
ton with members at a private ses-
sion in the Library of Congress at
10 am Thursday.
The House sounded off at length
yesterday on both the subject OF
inductions and discharges in a ses-
sion devoted largely to criticism and
defense of Army brass and Navy
braid.
Immediately at issue was meas
ure designed to make recruitment
easier for the armed forces by means
of a series of re-enlistment induce
ments. But the chamber refused
even to consider seriously amend
ments to:
l. Require the discharge "as rap
idly as discharge facilities will per
nit" of all nonofficers with 18 o.
more months of service.
2. Put a ceiling of 100000 on tn,
maximum strength of the Regular
Army,
3. Prohibit further drafting of an,
one under 20.
Defeated on Voice Vote.
A voice vote defeated the 500,00t
limitation amendment. The othe
two proposed changes were toSset
out on technicalities and without
fight.
About the only consequential
changes made in the bill wer
amendments to permit one-year en-
listments and to allow the Army t
accept enlistments of 17-year-olds
Both were adopted by voice vote.
Approved also was a requirement
that after six months of satisfactor
service an enlistee shall be promote
automatically to private first clas
This carries slight pay raise-fror
$50 to $54 month.
More oratory was in prospect o
the bill today. Representative Nc
Cowen, Republican, of Ohio dis
tributed advance copies of a speec
he prepared for floor delivery. In
he said the Army and Navy hav
made it perfectly clear that ther
is no intention to demobiliz
with any reasonable speed"
Wants People to Have Voice.
Asserting it was proper in wal
time to let the military command
have their way, Mr.. McCowe
added:
But now in peacetime let the
masters, the American people, ha,
their way. The people want til
men and women out that are NJ