Enlistments in Navy Open, Directed by Draft Boards

WASHINGTON -- President Roosevelt today disputed the view that the planned 7,500,000 man army by the end of 1943 would be too big to be properly equipped and indicated that reducing the Army's manpower was not being considered, despite current reports.

He told a press conference the claim that the big Army would seriously harm the domestic economy would be unpopular in the midst of a very serious war.

The matter arose when he was asked concerning a recent statement by Pierre Cot, former French Minister of Aviation, before a Senate committee that the fall of France could be blamed partly on the fact that the French Army was too big, Cot said French war production had not been able to keep pace with the increase of the army and that the army was one of men and machines.