Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 17, Number 16, DeMotte, Jasper County, 7 March 1947 — ARMY WILL RUSH RELEASE OF DRAFTEES [ARTICLE]

ARMY WILL RUSH RELEASE OF DRAFTEES

.Will Free Last 100,000, But Warns of Revival If Enlistments Fail |

Washington President -Trdrnan told Congress yesterday tb lot the draft!law die March 31 but pave notice a renewal will be sought later if voluntary recruitini; fails to keep 13141.000 men under ai ms. „ The Army announced simultaneoiasly that it will discharge the 1003)00 draftees remaining in its ranks—those in this country by May 15, those overseas by June 30—making it an entirely volunteer force. The Navy already has released all jt;s draftees. Actually no men have been (halted since last October, but the expiration of the act March 31 will meant

Voting men no longer will have to register upon reaching their ißth birthday. ) The 40,000,000 oldsters already registered can tear up the registration cards they have been required to carry. The 6,442 local draft 1 boards probably will go out of .business entirely. , r -4- / j- -*• Apy incentive to enlisting which the mere existence of the draft law provided will be removed. The Army’s strength is to be 1.070,000 after Jtiriet 30. All Commanders in this country antUoverseas,, the department said, have been ordered to start release of eligible men. . t. -The Army’s' serength on Feb. 14 was 1,126,422. The, department’s schedule calls for the discharge of all eligible men in the United States by May 15.

Overseas commanders were given an additional six weeks to make the releases because of shipping and other problems. They must, however* return eligible men to this country for completion of terminal lqave and ‘discharge not later than June 30. Exceptions will be made in cases of awaiting trial or, held as a result of trial; those held on of disability; or those who voluntarily submit to further medical care. They may be retaint'd beyond the deadlines ’ set for others. ' The first reaction among Con- fi gnissmen to Mr. Truman’s draft recommendation was j favorable, Chairman Gurney (Rep., S. D.) of the Senate armed services committee said he was “glad the President has made this decision.” Mr. Truman asked that the serviced be authorized to hire —from funds already appropriated— the necessary “civilian help to off-set any shortage of enlisted men if strengfh falls below the required levels. The White House dispatched the message to Capitol Hill while ihe President himself was flying to Mexico City for a tluee-day goud will visit. * 53