AMERICAN POWER

Southland Times, 16 October 1942, Page 5

AMERICAN POWER

4,250,000 MEN NOW IN ARMY (Rec. 7 pan.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 14. “There are now approximately 4,250,000 men in the United States Army. That figure will be increased to 7,500,000 next year,” declared Mr H. L. Stimson, the Secretary of War, today in a statement before the House of Representatives Military Affairs Committee. Mr Stimson was speaking in support of legislation he had requested earlier reducing the draft age to lo years. He said that his plans for next yeai included increasing the Air Forces to 2,200,000 men with ground units of 3,300,000 and an additional 2,000,000 men either training or engaged in supply work. The War Department was working towards building up the largest air force which production could sustain. Emphasizing the importance of lowering the draft age to 18 years Mr Stimson declared: “The United States wants in 1943 the largest air force with sustaining units which production and transportation will permit. The figure of 2,200,000 for the Air Forces is a conservative estimate. The changes will be upward.” He explained that plans for the induction of young men were based upon history and experience. IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH “All the major wars in which the United States has been engaged in the past have been carried through by men under 20 years,” he said. “The fact is that they are better soldiers and never in history have we so much needed exceptional soldiers. Youth constitutes the indispensable kind of men necessary to win this war.” Mr Stimson warned the committee that statistics showed that the army was getting too old, with too large a percentage of men over. 40 years who ought not to do the kind of fighting American armies were doing now'. “The men at present are allowed a minimum of 12 months for training, compared with two years in Germany, because we think Americans train more quickly than Germans,” he said. “It is not pleasant for me to consign the sons and grandsons of my friends to the hideous character of modern war, but if we want to save civilization that is the only road to follow.” The Chief of the General Staff, General George C. Marshall, said the average age of the combat army had

risen to a point unacceptable to the War Department. He added that he was investigating the possibility of releasing older draftees from the army after drafting the younger men. General Marshall opposed a provision in the bill that men under 20 years must be given a year’s training before being sent into combat. He explained that unexpected emergencies might require a shortening of the period.