Evening star., 1946-10-18
Army Will Discharge
435,000 by Dec. 81
In Economy Move
By Nelson M. ,Shepord

ssA sS
By Nelson N. Shepord
The Army is speeding up the dis
charge of 435 900 officers and men
by December 81, including all Sc
lectees inducted In 1945, it an
nounced last night.
The new move was directed by
President Truman's economy pro-
gram which reduces the Army to a
Ibudgetary ceiling Of 1910, 900 person.
mel at the end of the year. The
October / strength was 1,745,0 900.
Mai. Gen. Willard S. Paul, director
of personnel and administration,
also explained the move as an "effi-
cheney" policy to rid the Army OF
"deadwood," or "noneffectives" and
put it on volunteer basis as early
as possible.
$4,000 on Way Out.
OF the 435 900 nonregulars slated
for release, 29O, O,000 are now on their
way out, he said. They include 200,-
600 classed as "nonef1ectives" and
90, 1000 men backlogged in the Pa
cific. These overseas veterans will
be discharged by November IS at the
latest and most Of them earlier.
Discharges will be speeded and
economy effected by processing men
in time for them to complete their
terminal leave by the time they are
eligible for release.
The Army inducted 1856 900 men
in 1945. All but 100000 of them have
been discharged, and the remainder
are to be released on or before De-
cember 3.
Gen. Paul said the Army had be-
tween 100000 and 5000 selectees
on october l. BY the end of the year,
it expects to have fewer than 200, 900.
The goal of volunteer Army, he
said, depends upon continued sue
cess Of the recruiting campaign.
Whether the Army would seek to
draft men On January l, the end Of
the current draft holiday" Is not
known now. Nor Is it certain, he ex-
planned, that the Army will request
extension of the Selective Service
Act when it expires next March 81.
He hoped 1t would be unneces-
sary but reminded that it "all de-
pends on the number of volunteers
we take in"
Approximately 10000 non Regular
officers are on their way out or will
be out by the end Of the year. Gen.
| Paul said. The Army Air Forces an
nounced that the number includes
8,700 AAF officers. The Army's total
officer strength Is now slightly under
10000. AS with enlisted personnel
the least desirable" officers will be
the first to go. Others who want re-
leases will be discharged.
Screening Ordered.
| Field commanders were author
ized to eliminate the 435, 900 nom
volunteer personnel by declaring
them surplus only few isolated
cases would require board action.
Among the large quota are some
Regular enlisted men who are ap-
preaching the end of their duty
tours.
The exacting tasks with which
the Army now finds itself faced re-
quire the maximum efficiency from
both officers and enlisted personnel
the War Department announced. To
effect the reduction, commanders
will screen all personnel to elimi-
nate those who are untitled" to
perform the duties assigned to them
or who have demonstrated an ''tn-
aptitude" for military service.
The neneffectiyes include many
who are now in hospitals and can
no longer perform active duty
Others, Gen. Paul said. include some
trouble makers" Board proceed
ings, he explained, can be used to
weed out those who are ''ill adjust
cd to Army life in general.
The recruiting campaign by which
the Army had obtained ,020p51 vol
unteers on october 7, is expected to
drop of. One encouraging factor
Gen. Paul said, however, is that the
| September intake" represented IS
per cent who had no prior Army
service.
! The recruitment figures include
272,000 ''short-termers" who will be
discharged by June 80. 1947. For that
reason, he explained, the monthly
intake must balance the outgo i,
renewed draft calls are to be
avoided
| Curtailment of military appro-
priations-hardest hit in the Fed
eral service-call for an Army limi-
tation to 100000 men by next June
80. The ultimate size Of the peace
time Regular Army has not been
determined and cannot be at this
time.