Evening star., 1950-11-21
The Political Min

Military Draft Extension
By Congress Held VitoI
Trumon Expected to Press
Strongly for Permanent Law
By Gould Lincoln -.
When the 82nd Congress meets in
January, it will be called on to extend
the life of the Selective Service Act
the military draft-which is due to
expire July /, 1851. Such action will be
necessary if the military forces are to be
brought to the strength necessary in
this time Of stress and need for pre-.
paredness-and kept there. In addition.
the Administration military advisers
are giving consideration to q proposal
for permanent universal military
training law. They should-and the
permanent plan should be put through
now. for the simple reason that when
and If the emergency passes, so will
pass the opportunity for compulsory
military training. President Truman,
who has backed the idea Of universal
military training for the youth of this
country for years, is expected to press
strongly again for some kind of perma-
nent law.
The question has been raised whether.
with the selective service law taking prac-
tically all the available young men for
active service now, system of universal
military training could be operated ef-
fectiyely. One suggestion is that a
permanent system of training be set up
and all young men taken as they reach
the age of 18 or 19-and that those
who may be needed for active service
be indicted when they have completed
the training. This would necessiate q
system Of selection.
Personal Obligation.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, speaking
recently in Texas. declared that the
Nation will not be as safe as it could be
until every young American comes to
look on military service as a personal
obligation. Such service, he said, should
be given proudly and cheerfully."
During his campaign for reelection
in November Senator Wayne L. Morse,
Republican, strongly advocated the
adoption of a system Of universal mill
tary training. He followed q course
which some politicians might have
feared. But, Senator Morse, who won
overwhelmingly. apparently did himself
no harm by his stand. He is member
OF the Armed Services Committee of the
Senate and was one of those who
demanded that Congress pass before it
adjourned last September, bill to
provide for maximum Of six months Of
basic military training for boys of high
school graduate age.
The present emergency necessity for
sending troops with little training to
the front in Korea Is argument enough
for a permanent system of universal
military training. Young men, who have
never had any military training. have
been given eight weeks or less basic
training and shipped away to take their
places in active military units. It is
Senator Morse's opinion that If all
youths were given basic military train
ing, it would be possible to tell where
they could best serve # they were not
taken for military duty. then they might
be used for civilian defense. Mr.. Morse,
like many others, has arrived at the
conclusion that this country has fought
its last war without great loss of life
on American Soil-and by that he means
the mainland Of the United States.
Must Be Clearer Thinking.
A year ago at this time, predictions
were being made by congressional
leaders that the Selective Service Act
would be allowed to expire-with an
election coming up. It seems as in
credible, from the present point of view,
as that In 1941 the Draft Act was ex-
tended by majority in the House Of
Representatives Of only one vote. If
this country Is to remain strong and
be prepared to defend itself there must
be clearer thinking than there has been
in the past. and action, too.
It has been demonstrated that be-
tween a million and a million and
quarter men in the Armed Forces are
all that can be expected to enlist for
military service. The needs of the
country for defense now are admittedly
far, far beyond those numbers So both
draft law and training law are
essential
At present, men from 10 to 26 years Of
age are being drafted under the law.
When all the exceptions-the veterans
Of the last war, the young husbands
with wives and children, essential oc-
cupations, etc.-are taken into con-
sideration. the pool of available young
men is figured at 1,700, ,O00 and of these
probably only 100000 would be taken
since the reflections for physical and
other disabilities range up to so per
cent. The Army is using only inductions
to build up its forces, while the Navy
and the Air Force are still accepting
enlistments. It won't be long, however,
before the Navy and the Air Force,
too, will no longer enlist but will induct
men into service.
This Is the time for enactment of q
permanent training law.
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