Evening star., 1946-10-03

New Military training
Plan Faces Uncertain
Fate in Congress
An uncertain fate In Congress
today awaited the War Depart
ment's newest universal military
training plan, unveiled yester-
day.
First expressed reactions as to thu
merits of the departments propose
to require a year Of military train.
ing-with basic camp training Of 81,
months-of II to 20 year-olds were
cautious and divided.
But observers were in agreement
that rough sailing is ahead for the
plan when the new Congress con.
venes in January.
Legion Questions Plan.
Likewise from headquarters Of the
American Legion, which long has
advocated universal training, came
q statement questioning the neces-
sity for the War Departments pro-
posal to require six months Of in.
tensive training. The Legion state.
ment contended that four months
in training camps would be ade-
quate, followed by eight months o1
alternative training procedure.
Secretary Of War Patterson laid
the plan before the Legion conven-
ton in San Francisco yesterday.
Among the few members Of Con.
gress who discussed the proposition
Representative Brooks, Democrat, oi
Louisiana, member of the House
Military Affairs Committee, voiced
agreement with the Legion, but
praised the War Departments pro.
posal to let trainees retain civilian
status throughout training. Their
Mr.. Brooks commented that the
plan will be tough to get through
Congress because, although our p8o-
pie favor preparedness, they dislike
making the necessary sacrifices ir
peacetime.
Interesting Compromise.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois termed the plan IAN interesting
compromise" but remarked that the
American people have opposed any
type of compulsory training"
Representative Brown, Repub-
ican, of Ohio declined comment be-
cause, he predicted, universal train
ing will be one Of the chief issues
next year.
Estimating that it would make
726,0 900 young men available for
annually, the War Depart
ment urged the proposal as means
of maintaining strength Of the
Army. insuring speeding mobiliza-
ton and final training In emergency,
establishing, classifying and devel-
oping special skills and aptitudes
and providing each community with
a nucleus of trained leadership "in
the event of local disasters resulting
from initial enemy action"
The War Department stressed
that, under the plan, trainees would
retain civilian status, would be in
training" and not In Service" and
would be governed by a code o1
conduct" rather than the Articles
Of War. The plan also proposes q
civilian advisory board named by
the President to give advice and
counsel in nonmilitary matters
The War Department would deter
mine and execute all matters affect.
ing military policy.
Inductions Start at Is.
The plan would require every
male citizen who has attained hi:
17tiHI birthday and has not attained
his Goth birthday to register
for military training"
However, inductions would not bs
required until after the tsth birthl
day is reached except on a voluntary
basis with parental consent. Provi-
sion also Is made in the plan to
defer training for prospective In
ductees up to 20 years desiring to
finish secondary school.
The first six months Of training
would be devoted to military funda-
in training camps, and
would be approximately the same for
all inductees.
For the second six months OF
training the inductee would have the
option of enlisting in the regular
services, the National Guard, the
enlisted Reserve Corps ct college
ROTC, attendance at a technical
school. or entrance into one of the
service academies.
Calls for Civilian Agency.
The plan would set up a civilian
agency known as the Universal
Military Training Selection System
to handle registration, preliminary
and selec ckton Of
trainees.
Induction stations manned by the
Ground Army, Air Forces and the
Navy would be established, but re-
ception and separation centers
would not be used.
The plan provides that '.the train
ing of Negro personnel will not be
conducted at separate installations,
Units composed Of Negro personnel
will be trained as part of composite
organizations"
Conscientious objectors would be
assigned to service units of nom
combatant type.
Illiterates would receive special
instructions.
Dependency benefits would be au-
thorized for families depending on
trainees for support.