Evening star., 1948-12-19
.ruman Studying Plea
+ ForrestaI 10 Renew
"a.
..equest for UNIT Law
By lohn A. Giles

iefense proposal that he again ask
Congress to pass universal military
training law and raise budget re-
quests for the armed forces reserves
and National Guard by so per cent.
Press Secretary Charles G. Ross
told reporters that Mr.. Truman was
studying the report from Defense
Secretary Forrestal. but would make
no announcement on it at this time.
From other sources it was learned
that Mr.. Forrestals report. made as
result of the Chief Executives
October Is directive to the military
for a stepred-up reserve program,
contained the UNIT and increased
funds proposals among some 20-odd
recommendations. UNIT is being
sought in order that the reserves
might be furnished with a continu-
ous flow of pretrained personnel
after the current draft law expires
on June "a, 1851. However, de-
fense official said he did not look
for any concerted fight to obtain
UNIT at the session of Congress con-
vening next month.
Mr.. Forrestal previously told a
news conference that his recon-
mendations included one for con-
solidation of the Air National Guard
and Air Force Reserve-thus taking
control of the Air Guard from the
States and giving it to the Air Force.
se ,,y,lorefOaI RI fc
such a move.
Guard Angered.
The National Guard Association
said angrily yesterday that the
Guard merger proposal pointed
toward military dictatorship"
Mai Gen. Ellard A. Walsh, asso-
citation president, declared that If
the air unit move succeeded "it
would be only a matter of time until
the Department of the Army would
attempt to consolidate the ground
organized reserve corps" into single
unit.
Mr.. Forrestal told the President
in his report that measures short
of this step might be SUFFICIENT, but
that If it was found that the Ma
tional Guard could not be welded
quickly into striking force without
Federalization he would be forced
to ask for such a merger later. He
admitted that such proposal likely
would cause a long fight and possible
schisms within the military.
Meanwhile, the defense establish
ment is studying other reserve pro-
posals-one which would virtually
eliminate any distinction between
members of the Regular Army, Navy.
Air Force and Marine Corps and
their respective reservists in time of
war.
Navy Bitterness Cited.
Such distinctions as designation
of officers and men as reserves in
stead of members of the forces
themselves appeared to cause some
regulars to look askance at. such
personnel during World War II and
to bring about some bitterness, par
ticularly in the Navy.
Now officials at the Pentagon are
considering a plan whereby reserv-
lists called up in any future .emer-
gency would be temporarily trans
ferred to the regular forces and
completely lose their identity as re-
serves until released from active
duty when they would return to the
reserve status.
Mr.. Forrestals office also is now
studying these additional proposals,
all of which were advocated by an
Inter-Service Committee headed by
Assistant Army Secretary Gordon
Gray:
/. That the relative precedence
between regulars and reservists be
determined in accordance with date
of rank.
2. That reservists injured or killed
in line of duty wtie performing duty
of 80 days or less should receive the
same pay, allowance and other ben
efits as regulars in like circum-
stances.
8. That reServiStS reaching retire.
ment age prescribed for regulars be
transferred to reserve retired list.
4. That retirement benefits for re-
servists be computed only for ex-
tended active duty, attendance at
schools, attendance at active duty
camps or cruises for training ano
other periods OF full-time duty un-
der orders. Officials say that drill
pay compensates to some extent for
inactive duty periods and point out
that they do not prevent a reservist
from carrying on his usual ocupa
ton.
Opposition Expected.
Present laws give reservists non
disability retirement benefits for &c
years satisfactory service whether
active or inactive and any move to
change them is likely to bring a
fight from the Reserve Ofhcers
Association.
There are 1920 officers and men
v the Air National Guard and 46O
y, its 5l4 planned units have been
cderally recognized. The total con-
emplated strength by June 80, 1851
5 $4,000.
In the case of the Air Force Re-
erve, 354 units have been estab-
!ished but only Is of them are So
allied Glass A" units-fully Off
cered and with at least 80 per cent
of scheduled enlisted men.
The defense establishment said
the operational readiness of the All
National Guard was estimated at
81 per cent, while units that have
been organized more than year
about so per cent ready. On the
other hand the operational readi-
ness of the air reserve is only Is
per cent. due mostly to lack OF
equipment.
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