On to Six Million

The size of the U.S. Army is a military secret. Before it became a secret on Dec. 7 it was approximately 1,700,000. So it is no secret that the Army has a long way to go before it has the 6,000,000 men most military wizards figure it must have before the U.S. can defeat Hirohito, Hitler and hangers-on. This week the White House announced that on Feb. 16 the second Selective Service registration of World War II would go to work on the men in the age group 20 to 44 inclusive. The men from 18 to 19 and from 45 to 65, scheduled for noncombatant service, will not be looked at till later. When the check-up is finally finished, an extra 25,000,000 men will have been added to the 17,500,000 registered a year ago.

Many a man passed over in the first draft (21-to-35-year-olds) is still liable for service. Ex-soldiers, sailors and marines, in the deferred 4-A category, have been notified to stand by. So have the 28-to-35-year-olds drafted in the first registration, then released because of age.

All along the line the draft is getting stiffen 2-As (deferred because they hold vital jobs) will be given six months' grace while their employers look for substitutes, then once again will have to prove their indispensability as civilians. Among 3-As, deferred for dependents, draft boards will make a careful recheck. Many a husband with a self-supporting wife was deferred because the Army figured that a peacetime soldier would not be much good if he had a wife to worry about. Now the Army won't bother about his emotions.

Although the new draft will scoop up a huge number of draftees, the Army is signing up volunteers as fast as they come. The rush of enlistments that started with Pearl Harbor is still going strong this week.

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