Evening star., 1951-01-14
By the Associated Press

hiSIy bClCSl dlllS dIlu lGbtcl D
pounded Congress yesterday from
parents protesting the Administra-
ton request to draft 18-year- -olds
for 27 months military service.
1T started as a trickle in the
middle of last week." one Senator
told reporter. THE protests have
been increasing with every mail"
Most of them result from three
days of testimony by Mrs. Anna
M. Rosenberg, Assistant Secretary
OF Defense. before the Senate Pre-
paredness Subcommittee.
She and Secretary of Defense
Marshall said that President Tru-
man supported their plan for
lowering the present minimum in
duction age of 19 to 18 and length
'ening required service from 81 to
27 months.
Permanent Plan Offered.
They offered it as a permanent
plan, both for meeting the emer-
gency increases in the armed
services and maintaining trained
reserve in the future.
Defense officials said they have
few alternatives for obtaining the
men needed to build the armed
services up to the 3,462.205 goal,
by June 30. approved by President
Truman Friday. This apparently
means an increase of around a
million.
Unless the Army, Air Force,
Navy and Marines can draft the
18-year-o -olds, Mrs. Rosenberg said,
they must induct thousands of
noW-deferred husbands, fathers,
college students, farmers, indus
trial workers and some veterans
now in the manpower pool of men
19 through 25.
Senate Majority Leader Nc
Farland. Democrat, of Arizona
said he had received quite a few
protests" against drafting 18-year-
Iolds.
He told a reporter there already
was some talk about two possible
compromises: First, allowing a
draft of youths of 18 but pro-
hibiting combat or overseas duty
until they are 10; or second, low
ering the present induction limit
to ID years and six months.
Ives Cites Protests.
Senate Republican Leader Wher-
ry said he is confident that the
United States can fill its military
ImanpoWer needs by emphasis on
sea and air strength without so
large an Army that it requires
drafting of 18-year- -olds, stripping
essential men from our farms.
breaking up homes by taking mar
ried men with children, and pos
sibly recalling World War II vet
erans."
Aides Of Senator Ives, Republi-
can. of New York, said he had re-
ceived a number of protests
against drafting 18-year-olds.
Senator Dirksen, Republican, of
Illinois, from another of the
populous States, also reported an
increasing mail volume.
He promised careful study of
the issue of drafting youths but
noted that as a youth he served
in World War I.
Senator Cain. Republican, of
Washington, reserve officer and
veteran of World War II, re-
ported an increasing of protests.
Young men are the ones who
can best adapt themselves to the
rigors of war" Senator Cain is re-
plying to such letters. "They are
most easily trained in the diff
cult task of battle and are most
able to take care of themselves
in combat.
"Our pool of manpower is
limited both by the fact that our
war industry needs millions of
skilled workers and that millions
OF men in their tWenties have al
ready been called upon to serve
in war.
Wouldn't it be unfair to call
them a second time without at
tempting to meet our draft re-
quirements elseWhere?"
Military officials will resume
testimony for the new proposal
tomorrow