Evening star., 1951-03-07
Marshall Note Warns
Against Ceilings on
Military Manpower
BY George Beveridee :

statutory ceiling on strength of
the armed forces al this time
would be "a direct gamble with
national security in the present
world situation"
Senator Lyndon johnson. Dem
ocrat, of Texas, quoted parts of
letters from Gen. Marshall and
chiefs of staff of the Army and
Air Force, as the Senate APP
preached a vote on draft bill
amendment to limit military ex-I
pansion to 35 million men.
Democratic leaders are hopeful
the Senate can dispose OF large
number of amendments this after
noon and vote on its long-range
draft bill tonight.
Is Minimum of Strength"
In face of strong Senate sup
port for a military ceiling,
Senator johnson quoted Gen.
Marshall as saying the present
plan to expand to 3.46 million
men does not constitute a ceiling,
but "a minimum of strength in
the present situation"
The defense leader wrote that
the number of men under arms
should reflect the best judgment
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
that ito tie their hands and strip
= them of flexibility is a highly dan
gerous procedure.
Gen. Collins. Army Chief of
Staff, wrote that to set such a
ceiling might unnecessarily di-
vulge future plans" to an enemy.
Excerpts of letters from Gen.
Bradley and Gen. Vandenberg, Air
Force Chief, read by the Texas
Senator, also strongly urged Con-
gress not to approve a strength
ceiling.
Debate Becoming Major Issue.
The debate took on proportions
of a major issue as Republican
leaders and some Democrats sup
ported the ceiling move
Senator Capehart, Republican,
of Indiana wanted the ceiling, to
be 4 million, and said he would
propose that if the 35 million
draft bill amendment fails.
The Senators agreed to start
voting on the question this after
noon.
At the same time, Senate Ma
jority Leader Mcfarland threat
ened to call night session for
the first time this year in the
hope of finishing action on the
universal training and service bill
which would lower the compul-
sorry induction age to 18 and ex-
tend draft service from q to 26
months.
Once the ceiling issue is de-
cided, the Senate still will face at
least three more controversial
amendments.
Taft to Push Amendment.
Most important is a proposal by
Senators Bricker, Republican, of
Ohio and johnson, Democrat, of
Colorado to postpone final deci-
sion on universal military train
ing program until a time when
world conditions settle down.
Senator Taft, Republican, of
Ohio, has promised to push an
amendment to put a four-year
limitation on the draft act. AS
drawn up. the bill provides a perm
anent program, capable of cutting
back military service and swing
ing automatically into univer-
sal training program for 18-year-
olds.
In addition, several Senators
have said they will review ques-
tions of deferments for college
students.
Army Reduces Draft Call.
In other manpower develop
mentS:
l. The Army called on selective
service for only 10000 draftees in
Maya 25 per cent cut of calls
issued since the first of the year.
2. The Air Force told prospec-
tive aviation cadets they must
enlist as privates for four years
and revert to that grade if they
fail to qualify as aviators. In the
past, cadets who failed to make
the grade returned to civilian
life.
The Army said today that it was
able to call for 200 900 fewer men
in May because it was catching
UP on the requirements of Gen.
MacArthur's forces in the Far
East" A spokesman said that the
10000 figure was planned fig
ure" and is intended to insure the
complete needs of Gen. Mac
Arthur. 1t has no effect on the
proposed draft of 18-year-olds."
House Testimony Resumes.
Meanwhile, the House Armed
Services Committee resumed tes-
timory from opposition witnesses
on a draft bill of it's own, which
would lower the draft age only
to 1872.
Norman Thomas, chairman of
the Post War World Council, told
the committee there is no alterna-
tive to an active draft program,
but strongly opposed reducing the