Evening star., 1946-12-19
Army Issues Warning
|0f Weakness Abroad
And Hazards al Home
BY the Associated Press

.
The Army, building up steam for
it's legislative drive in the new Con-
gress, gravely warned today of dan
gerously weakened troop strength
abroad and potential military haz-
ards at home.
Top-leyel officials discussing with
reporters the immediate long-range
manpower problems of national de-
fense, punctuated their explanations
with such assertions as these:
/. If this country encountered a
military crisis tomorrow its weak
ened forces overseas, with an in
sufficiently trained reserve at home,
would be .overrun except in some
isolated spots.
2. If at some time in the next few
years the United States were sub
jected to an atomic bomb attack,
there would be dire need for read
| lily mustered and thoroughly trained
Regular Army, National Guard
and organized reserve troops.
Will Stress Two Points.
Such an attack, these officials said,
| would produce chaotic conditions
among the civilian population and
in transportation, and would be ac-
companied by the possibility of hav-
ling to cope with an enemy para
trooper attack.
The War Department intends to
emphasize two items in it's forth
coming legislative program-unifica-
ton and universal military training
Convinced that some form of a
service uniflcation law stands a
good chance of passage next year,
the War Department has given that
subject top billing. A prime argu-
ment, because of the econmy mind
ed new Congress, will be an Army
estimate that manpower savings up
to 20 per cent be attained by elm
mating some duplicating Army and
Navy functions, especially in serv-
ice and supply operations.
Pool Of Men Urged.
In talking of universal military
training, advocates emphasize first
the need for pool Of technically
trained men which can take sta
tions quickly under any M-day
order. They make the second point
that universal training is expected
to help the current volunteer en-
listment program because some
portion of the youths trained each
year will find the life interesting
enough to enlist in the Regular
Army.
Because of the close relation be-
tween universal training and war
time selective service, legislative pro-
gram planners say the War Depart
ment will hold of until near the
March 81 deadline before deciding
whether to ask for renewal of the
draft. The decision will depend on
the state of the recruiting program.
officials said frankly they are sure
the military can not expect to get
both draft extension and universal
military legislation from the new
Congress. At best, they can hope for
only one or the other.
Meanwhile, foes of combining the
House Naval and Military Affairs
Committees threatened to carry
their fight to the floor, claiming the
scheduled consolidation is part of
the scheme" to merge the Army and
Navy.
Cole Heads Fight.
The new combined committee Is
provided for in the congressional
reorganization act which reduces
from 48 to 10 the number of stand
ing House committees when the new
Congress convenes January 3.
However, the House by q simple
majority vote could amend its own
rules and retain both the Military
and the Naval Committees as sep
arate groups.
Representative Cole of New York,
top-ranking Republican on the
Naval Committee and in line to be-
come chairman If the consolidation
is blocked, is directing the anti