New Draft Revision Would Boost Reserve

President Eisenhower proposed a new draft law last week which would cut the armed force by four hundred thousand men during the next two years, while building up a reserve of five million men and saving billions of dollars during the next five years.

Under the plan a man reaching the age of 18 could enter one of four programs:

1. If he were under 19 he could enter a special program in which he would undergo training for six months and then join a standby researve for nine and a half years. Such reserves would be subject to call only in a national emergency. Over the next four years one hundred thousand men a year, presumably chosen by lot, would enter the program.

2. He could enlist in any branch of the armed services. Men in the Army or Marines would continue to serve three years on active duty and seven years in the reserves, and those in the Navy or Air Force would still serve four years on active duty and four years in the reserve.

3. He could allow himself to be drafted for two years and remain in the reserve for six years after his release from active service.

4. He could join a reserve unit for at least 24 months. Then he would enter a selective reserve for six years. Selective reserves can be called only during "secondary mobilization," after active forces have entered battle.

Men trained under the new program as standby reservists would not be eligible for the benefits of the G.I. Bill. In training they would receive only 30 dollars a month compared to 78 for draftees. If in the next year the number of men on active duty decreased by one hundred thousand and if an equal number of men joined a standby reserve, the government would save an estimated five hundred million dollars in pay alone.

Burgazz Defends Cut

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower Carter L. Burgess last week defended the cut of active forces in favor of reserves by stating that it is "no longer possible for the United States to prepare for war after it is declared." The new program would enable five million men to mobilize in four to six months after the outbreak of war.

At present, there are three million men in the reserves, but, according to Burgess, they would need at least a year's training to be ready for combat.

Arthur E. Sutherland, professor of Law, last night praised the idea of building up the reserves, but said that he was nervous about cutting down our ready troops. Sutherland added, however, "I think the President, with all his military experience knows more about the creation and maintenance of armed forces than anyone else."

The Army-Navy-Air Force Journal, an unofficial service publication, reported last week, however, that General Matthew B. Ridgway, Chief of Staff, was very disturbed over any reported cut in ground forces.