Evening star., 1946-03-29
Denfe|d Urges Draft
To Keep Volunteers
Coming Into Navy
BY the Associated Press

The Navy teamed up with the
Army today in asking Congress to
extend the Selectiye Service Act
beyond May IS.
Vice Admiral Louis E. Denfeld
Navy personnel chief, told the Senate
Military Affairs Committee the Navy
Is getting plenty of volunteers but
said they are joining to avoid being
inducted into the Army.
The admiral said the Navy had
449, 900 regulars signed up as OF
April /, but that it needed $4,000
more, or about 10000 monthly In
order to reach a planned strength
of $4,000 regulars by September /
Chairman Thomas of Utah and
Senator johnson, Democrat, OF
Colorado, opponents Of extending
selective service, said the Navy had
no trouble getting volunteers before
the war and suggested this might
be true even If the draft expired.
Admiral Denfeld contended there
is a "big question" about getting
volunteers unless the draft provided
an incentive" to enlist.
Senator O'Mahoney. Democrat, o1
wyoming asked how the Navy woulc
use the men.
2S0,0OO Needed by Fleets.
Admiral Denfeld said 100000 are
needed to man the active fleets at
70 per cent of full complement
$4,000 each for feet support outside
and within the country, 10000 for
training, with the balance in as
sorted assignments.
Senator Hart, Republican, of Con-
necticut, a retired admiral, asked il
the TO per cent complement on ac-
tive fighting ships was "skele-
tonized."
Eyes SIR" Admiral Denteld re-
piled. IT would not like to 60
into battle with 10 per cent COM
plement."
Admiral Denfeld also told of plans
for training $4,000 naval reserve
officer candidates in 50 colleges and
universities and said the Navy now
is considering plans to establish
similar units in States lacking them
They would have equality with An
napolis graduates, he added.
Opposition testimony came from
H. c. Holdridge, retired brigadier
general and West Point graduate
He said the draft extension is a
broad program of militarization of
the United States"
One-Year Extension Gaining.
There were strong indications to-
day that the committee would ap-
prove one-year extension.
The tipoff came from Senator
Smith, Republican, of New Jersey
who told a reporter the United
States cannot afford to take the
chance" of allowing the draft to
lapse seven weeks hence.
Smith Figured in Tie.
Senator Smiths observation was
considered significant for he fig
ured in the committees 8-8 tie vote
which earlier this week blocked ap-
proved of both a six weeks compro-
mise extension and the full-year
proposal. The tie led to the cur
rent renewal of public hearings.
The deadlock in the committee
came when Senator Austin, Repub-
lican, of Vermont proposed the one
year extension without public hear
ings, and Senator johnson offered a
compromise six weeks extensions
with public hearings on the longer
proposal.
Senator Smith voted with Senator
johnson and his announcement to-
day Of his support of the full-year
extension appeared to assure a IA
vorable committee report to the
Senate when hearings end April 9.
Meanwhile, Chairman May of the
House Military Affairs Committee
announced his group will meet Tues
day to reach one of three decisions:
Whether to hear opposition testi-
mony Git already has heard extern
sion pleas, whether to defer action
until the Senate acts or to send an
extension bill to the House floor i'm
media telv