Evening star., 1950-11-12

iSst VI HIHt9tOH ioi"9' 'oSS H-@~
draft law, including As District
physicians and 19 District dentists,
will report this week for pre-in-
duction physical examinations.
None of those slated for exam
ination will enter the service in
time to meet the Army's call on
Selective Service for 300 physi-
clans by November Is. But the
first of them will either be in
Quoted or called to duty as officers
by late December, officials said.
Commissioning Stopped.
At the same time, the Navy yes
terday stopped accepting applica-
tions for commissions from physi-
clans and dentists classified as
priority one" under the draft law.
That group includes those trained
at Government expense or other
wise deferred to continue medical
education during World War II,
who had less than 80 days active
duty.
Whether any of the Army's
prospective medical officers &C
tually will be drafted depends on
whether enough accept commits
sions to meet quotas to be set up
in each local area.
Here. according to Brig. Gen.
Paul I. Robinson, personnel chief
for the Army Surgeon General, is
the way the medical expansion
program will work in the Wash
ington area:
Names of men who pass the
physical exams this week, along
with their complete draft files,
will be sent to Second Army head
quarters at Fort Meade, Md. In
cluded will be questionnaires on
which each draft registrant was
asked to specify his willingness to
accept commission in the re-
| serves.
Army to Issue Commissions.
| At Fort Meade, officials will sort
out the names OF all qualified men
who say they are willing to be-
come reserve officers. These COM
missions will be issued as soon as
possible.
Then. the names of qualified
doctors who. refuse to take COM
missions will be returned to draft
boards. The boards will begin to
induct these men if not enough
commissions are issued to cover
the Army's need. This need will
be determined by quotas, which
probably will be sent out within
the next few weeks.
Under this policy. Gen. Robin
son admitted, doctors who refuse
to take commissions apparently
gain a deferment. for themselves,
if quotas can be filled without in
duction.
Deferment Called Temporary
"But in any event." he declared,
"such a deferment can only be
temporary, and those individuals
are taking a chance that they will
be suddenly called (through the
draft and will be unable to get
commissions before being in
Quoted"
Any doctor inducted before &C
tually getting his commission
loses an extra $100 a month pay
given those who take commissions
voluntarily. In two instances
under the non-medical draft
a physician and dentist already
have been inducted as privates.
While both are being given COM
missions, neither will get the ex-
ira $100.
Gen. Robinson stressed that ac-
ceptance of the reserve commits
sions does not necessarily mean
the doctors will be called immedi-
ately to active duty. Quotas will
be set up, he said, only to meet
specific needs for the medical
men.
Few Are Willing.
District draft officials said "rela-
lively few" of the doctors classified
la here stated willingness to ac-
cept commissions. Many. however
gave no answer to this question.
Presumably, they will be asked
again when they report on Tues
lCnntinIed an pana A Col sA