Show isenhower Asks l J raft Extension Would limit free Fathers W Warns Against shorter March 21 UP UP JP ASHINGTON WASHINGTON Dwight I D. D Eisenhower l ogresS congress Thursday to extend the draft law indefinitely and liability of inductees to 18 months that f is done the chief of staff told the house military com com- the army can release all fathers by the end of August or ori orin in i in September regardless of f how long they have been in service If It ft 1 Is not done he warned the army may fall short by men of Its estimated needed strength of or on July 1 1947 1917 Warn Varn on Short Extension Both Eisenhower and Secy of War Robert P. P Patterson argued i against proposals for a shorter extension of the selective service act which expires on May 15 of this year Should the selective service act not be continued and should our recruiting program fall fail to establish and sustain a volunteer army of the requisite size Patterson Patterson Patterson Pat Pat- terson said the military position of this country and therefore curability our cur ability to preserve the peace we have won would become precarious ous This country cannot afford to take ake chances on man power for forthe forthe forthe the army he added Recommends Raises Patterson told the committee extension of ot the draft should be coupled with a 20 over all in increase increase in- in crease in pay and allowances for all military personnel Eisenhower suggested legislation legisla- legisla ion tion extending the draft contain these hese restrictions A prohibition against service for more than 18 months a requirement that no nomore nomore nomore more men be inducted than are necessary to meet estimates of strength required by July 1 1947 and a a stipulation that the army discharge all fathers now in servIce Ice cc and decline to Induct any In Inthe Inthe Inthe the future He told the committee strengths strength is s necessary to support the position position tion ion of the allies in the united nations organization and said the smaller mailer nations are e looking to the larger arger ones to supply that strength Estimates Shortage While Eisenhower said the shortage In man man power power requirements requirements requirements require require- ments of the army would be 00 by July 1 1947 Patterson estimated the shortage at men If the draft law Is not riot ex- ex tended ended The secretary said pre present S e n t army strength is about with a net reduction of one n million expected between now v and next June He said the war department department department depart depart- ment Intends to continue a vigorous vigor vIgor- ous Gus recruitment program and already already al- al ready eady there have been enlistments en- en more than half of them for tor or a year three-year period The Tho top army men were also alao alsoto to o appear before a closed session of of- the senate military committee to o testify on the draft extension Seey Secy of State Byrnes and Navy Secy Se Forrestal Forrest 1 also may be heard |