Evening star., 1948-04-24
.Forresta| Agrees
To oUMT.Draft
Merger Plan
Calls for Permanent
Training Program as
Soon as Possible
BY the Associated Press

. A compromise plan wrapping
up a limited universal military
training program with a tenn
porary draft had the support of
Secretary of Defense Forrestal
today.
! Faced with mounting congress
sional opposition to a separate UNIT
program, Mr. Forrestal yesterday
agreed to accept-temporarlly-a
merger proposal advanced by mem
bers of the Senate Armed Services
Committee.
In a second major strategy switch
On defense plans. Mr.. Forrestal said
in a letter to Chairman Gurney:
Il believe it will give us a maximum
military strength for minimum Of
COST" But he added:
Il do not regard this proposal as
an adequate substitute for UNIT"
He asked that the compromise be
followed las soon as possible" by a
permanent universal training pro-
gram.
Three Proposals Offered.
The drive for abandonment of the
separate UNIT plan broke out at
yesterdays closed session of the
Senate committee. Senator Bald
win, Republican, of Connecticut and
others asked:
/. That UNIT trainees be taken
only for six months instead of the
proposed six months basic training
plus six months special training
with one of the regular services.
2. That they be trained with other
recruits, including draftees. This,
they said, would ta) avoid setting
UP separate camps and barracks
costing extra millions and (2) dis
pense with more than $4,000 officers
and men who would be needed as
instructors.
3. That after six months the UNIT
traineeS be allowed to enlist in the
National Guard or some other Re-
serve unit. This would enable them
to remain at home or in school
while completing training.
Mr.. ForreStal did not agree to
these terms. He said the armed
services would supply their own
ideas later.
Chairman Gurney said the plan
should allow the armed services and
active reserve units "to fill their
ranks with trained men almost i'm
mediately.'
Second Revision Of Program.
But I still think we must have
a long-range UNIT in order to cut
down the costs and size of large
regular forces in the future" Sena-
tor Gurney said.
Mr.. Forrestal's action marked the
second revision in the administra-
tons defense program. Earlier this
week he agreed to expand the Air
Force from SIS to Sc groups and
boost manpower ceilings by 1000 to
a 1885, 900 total for the Army, Navy
and Air Force.
However, members Of the House
Armed Services Committee predict
ed their group next week will ap-
prove a draft bill raising the armed
/ forces to 2,OO6,O 900 men by the middle
of 1950-including $4,000 men for
a 7O-group Air Force. The commit
tee will begin closed sessions on the
measure Tuesday.
And the Senate Appropriations
Committee will open hearings Mon
day on a House-approved money
bill which would start the air arm
on its way toward 70-group strength
Two Churchmen Heard.
A country preacher from Indiana
E. Paul Weaver of Huntington
County, told the House committee
Yesterday that American Legion
leaders are pushing for a peacetlme
draft without the support OF theil
own members.
He said the Legion had not polled
it's membership on either draft OF
UNIT since 1919. John T. Taylor
speaking for the Legion Thursday
had indorsed the draft bill.
Another churchman, Charlie F
Boss of Chicago, executive secretary
of the Commission on World Peace
of the Methodist Church. opposeo
the draft bill.