LONGER SERVICE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 8 March 1941, Page 5

LONGER SERVICE

ARMY OF AMERICA NAVAL ENLISTMENTS AIR SERVICE PURCHASE AXIS LINES IN SOUTH (F,lpc. 'Pol. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 8, 11.45 a .in.) WASHINGTON, Mar. 7. The United States War Department intends to ask Congress for authority to keep the National Guard in service tor an additional six months or a year. It is slated that demobilisation after the conclusion of the current year might create a serious situation because of the shortage of trained manpower to train selective service recruits called to the colours under the continuous process. Some difficulties would be offset by an expansion of the regular army which now totals 500,000 officers'and men. General Marshall, the Chief of Stall feels that a second year’s service fori the National Guard is advisable in the light of the present international outlook and considers that a minimum of six months is indispensable. He expects that 1.418,000 men will be in service by the end of June. Strength of the Navy The House Naval Committee yesterday unanimously approved of legislation authorising a permanent navy enlisted strength of 232,000 and an emergency strength of 300,000. Mr. Hamilton Fish, a member of the House of Representatives, has announced that he is introducing a bill, authorising the Administration to purchase Axis commercial air lines in South American for joint operation by the United States and the countries traversed. Mr. Fish said that Axis air lines criss-crossed over 20,000 miles of

South America, constituting a menace to the United States in the event of war or a totalitarian thrust in the Western Hemisphere.