Evening star., 1952-02-12
Ten Religious Groups
To Offer Statements
AT UNIT Hearing
By George Beveridqe

CaplCOf Hill CeSClmOny IN OppO-
sition to universal military train
ing continued today, as the Senate
Armed Services Committee called
representatives of 10 religious
groups for statements on the con-
troversial issue.
The committee is trying to wind
up public hearings this week to
have ready for Senate action by
February 81 a supplementary bill
that would clear the way for the
Administration to start UNIT on a
limited basis this year.
While Congress actually ap-
proved machinery for UNIT last
year. the basic merits of the pro-
posal are being argued at nearly
every session of the committee.
The bill under study relates mainly
to legal rights and obligations
largely non-controversial in them
selves-of the traineeS.
Will Speak for Groups.
Today'S witnesses will speak for
the Baptist Joint Committee on
Public Affairs, Church of the
Brethren. Methodist Church Com
mission on World Peace, American
Baptist Committee, Franklin
County (Ohio) Council of
Churches, Mennonite Central
Committee, National Conference
of Methodist Youth, National
Council of Churches of Christ, Ma
tional Women's Christian Temper
ance Union, United Christian
Youth Movement and Northeast
Ohio Conference of the Methodist
Church.
Educational leaders yesterday
criticized plans for an early start
to UNIT and maintained that vir-
tually all youths will be needed
for actual military service for an
indefinite period. Committee
members have contended it is
feasible to start small UNIT pro-
gram while other youths still are
being drafted for two years serv-
ice.
Francis H. Horn. secretary of
the National Education Associa-
tion'S department of higher edu-
cation, testified that a survey of
1900 educators showed that,
while only 81 per cent opposed
UNIT, 70 per cent oppose start
Immediately.
Hits Dangerous Doctrine"
Mr.. Horn also charged the
Pentagon with spreading dan
gerous doctrine" by indicating
that UNIT would permit elimina-
ton of the draft and a cut in
size of the armed forces "in two
or three years"
"An armed force of sufficient
size can be had under a program
of UNIT only if the trainees con-
tinue for an additional 18 months
of active service. or are recalled
later for such duty" Mr.. Horn
declared.
Under the UNIT law, inductees
would go into reserve forces for
seven and one-half years after
finishing the six-month training
courses.
DR.. Charles j. Turck of the
Association Of American Colleges
also opposed initiation of UNIT
now and said the issue should
be debated years hence, when the
(military) emergency has passed"
Chairman Russell Replies.
In reply, Chairman Russell
argued that UNIT is the only
means of building a reserve of
men who have not previously
fought war, in case a new emer-
gency of the Korea type breaks
out. He said any such incident
would require men faster than the
draft system could provide them.
Senator Morse, Republican, of
Oregon, also blasted as pure fear
arguments" and emotional sane
tions" previous testimony that
UNIT would indoctrinate youths
with militarism. He said there is
no evidence of such indoctrina-
ton among the IA million World
War II veterans.
In other testimony:
The American Dental and
American Medical Associations
urged that dental and medical
students who finish universal
military training not be liable for
reserve duty until after they finish
school.
The Engineering Manpower
Commission asked that "profes-
sional and scientific" students be
given the same deferment of lia-
bility as reservists and that UNIT
graduates be recalled to active
duty as reservists "only by civil
ian agency, such as selective serv-
ice, and not by the armed forces" !"
The Won+har