Evening star., 1948-12-12
Army Strength Raised
To Around $4,000,
Up $4,000 in Month
By John A. Giles

Inc SCrenRLn OF LflS ARMY jumped
by nearly 25,OO0 officers and men
in November to the highest figure
in two and a half years, it was
learned yesterday.
A total of around $1,000 volun-
teers were signed up during the
month, which, with the 10000 men
indicted under the Selective Serv-
ice Act. boosted the strength to
some $4,000 officers and men, a
high officer said.
The strength on November l, in
cluding officers, was 645.067. which
compared with 635, $40 on october l..
The authorized strength of the
Arny is $1,000 but Congress ap-
propriated funds this fiscal year for
only 100000, plus 10000 18-year-
old one-year enlisteeS The strength
last June was $4,000 officers and
men.
The service had hoped to reach
the 100000 figure by next June 50,
and had laid plans for an 18-divi-
sion force on that basis, but the
possibility of budgetary limitations
next wear has caused the ofnclals
to lay cautious course In buliding
up the strength.
Recruiting Maintained.
Recruiting during last month thus
kept on the high level it has main
tanned since enactment Of the draft
last June. In October 1882 men
signed up.
Defense officials already have an
nounced that the draft call would
be cut from 10000 to 10000 in Janu-
arv and that the February call
would be only 5000. The defense
establishment said that budgetary
limitations for fiscal 1850 caused
the cuts. President Truman has
ordered the military budget for the
fiscal year starting next July l kept
to less than $4,000 900 900.
In addition to the budget, factors
which affect the draft calls are the
number of volunteers and the rate
of attrition. Recruiting Is expected
to drop this month because OF the
holiday season while atuition pres
entity is at low rate.
The volunteering of 18-year-oldS,
who after one years service in the
continental United States and
protracted period in the reserves
thus become exempt from the draft,
has been particularly disappointing.
The Army obtained less than 10000
of these youths.
Officials do not plan to ask any
change in the draft Law to eliminate
the 18-year-old provision, however.
They hope that the youths VIII
volunteer in greater numbers as
they complete school and college
courses.
Start Training Tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Army tomorrow
will begin officer training OF some
200 ex-GI's who have finished COL
lege since their World War II serv-
ice. The department. which esti-
mates 1t will need some 10000 Sec
ond lieutenants for its expanded
force and to meet normal attrition,
has conducted a campaign to recruit
the Young veterans which 1t be-
lieves the best officer material pres
entity available. 1t is expected that
large numbers of the veterans will
sign up for officer training in jan
uary and February, when they COM
plete college training.
Employment always has been the
greatest factor in Army strength.
When employment was up the serv-
Ice found its ranks thin. Now,
however, the service finds that 1t is
more and more affected by the
school cycle and that as youths
complete courses of education they
fill recruiting stations and officer
training schools.
Locally, the District Selective
Service Office said that the 80 men
who had been ordered to report for
induction next Wednesday had been
informed that they need not report
until December % as result OF
the Christmas draft holiday ordered
by Army Secretary Royal and the
National Selective Service ONCE.
Seventy-six District men will be in
Quoted this month.