Evening star., 1946-01-16

major source OF requirements 1or
those in later release categories,
leaving them dependent on the sue
cess of the Regular Army's enlist
ment program.
Although Mr.. Truman's military
training proposals preclude use OF
trainees as overseas replacements,
the House members told reporter
they believe the well-trained Reserve
created by the program would reduce
necessity for the large standing
Army now planned.
Further Data Sought.
Meanwhile, three Senators on a
special military affairs subcommittee
tackled the task of finding some way
to speed the return to civilian life OF
some 2,00o, 900 fedup servicemen who
have been chorusins I'VE want to- &c
home"
Apparently unconvinced by de.
tailed rehabilitation data from
Gen. Eisenhower, Army Chief oi
Staff, the committee had as wit
ness Acting Secretary of War Ken
meth c. Royal.
Gen. Royal assured the commit
tee the War Department is anxious
to get soldiers home as quickly as
the Army's obligations permit.
AS he put 1t, this is the War De-
partment's position:
1--WE have two general objectives
in mind. First to perform such
duties and jobs that are assigned to
us, and second to get the boys out
as quickly as we can, consistent
with performance of our duties"
Gen. Royal said Gen. Eisenhower
had completely outlined the demo-
bilization program yesterday.
Feat Called Remarkable.
On July / when the Army drops
to a strength of l,500,000 Mr.. Royal
said, there will be in service only
500, 900 men who were in the Army
on We day.
I'VE consider this remarkable in
view of the fact that there were
$500, 900 on duty" Gen. Royal said
The War Department reported
that 5.l23,000 soldiers were mus
tered out between We day and last
Friday. OF this number, 4,525, ,00C
were released after VI day. Dur
ing the week ended Friday, 26l ,00C
were discharged.
simultaneously, Gen. Jacob L. De-
vers, commander of Army grouno
forces, reported he had telegraphee
all AGF installations in the United
States to report Immediately the
names of enlisted men with IS point,
or 30 months service, who will b,
eligible for discharge under tn,
latest rehabilitation orders.
Gen. Royal emphasized that L.
900, 900 soldiers already had been re.
leased ahead Of schedule. This wal
the main reason for the so-callet
showdown" of rehabilitation, h,
said.
IF we had continued that rate
there would not have been a mar
left in the Army July /, not one,
he said. 1T was absolutely essentia
that the rate be reduced"
Depends on Two Factors.
The plan to reduce the Army Il
1,500 900 by July l is dependent OF
two factors, Gen. Royal said.
/. Continuation Of voluntary en-
listments and present rates of in
ductions under Selective Service.
2. Elimination of huge supplies o
war surpluses in both the Pacifi
and Atlantic theaters.
"Our only purpose is to try ant
clarity this entire situation" Sena
tor johnson, Democrat, of Colorado
chairman of the Special Militar,
Affairs Subcommittee, said in an in
terview. 1--WE are wide open fo
facts but we want to talk cold tur
key and put everything on top of tn
table. We are not trying to fr.
anybody but we do have some ques
tions."
Senator Revercomb, Republican
Of West Virginia, another membe
of the committee, asserted w
should be speeding up rather thai
slowing down rehabilitation.
II am certain that fair and set
tied rehabilitation system will com
out of this inquiry"
Revercomb Sees Overstaffing.
Mr.. Revercomb declared that tn
Army now has 2,700,000 more me-
in uniform than the 10000
strength fixed for the postwar lam
forces.
The third member of the investi
eating group Is Senator Briggs
Democrat, Of Missouri.
Many Congress members VIII
heard Gen. Eisenhower, Admire
Chester w. Nimitz and Vice Admire
Louis Denfeld outline Army an
Navy plans yesterday said afterwar
that the armed forces apparent
are doing as we'll as possible on
difficult job.
However, there were some dis
senters, such as Representa-,