Citizens Only

ARMY & NAVY

In Munich, Regensburg and Heidelberg, Army recruiting offices posted signs in five languages informing persistent hungry, ill-clothed Germans and D.P.s that only U.S. citizens are eligible for the well-fed, well-dressed U.S. Army.

But back in the prosperous U.S. no amount of persuasion could induce enough U.S. citizens to claim their birthright. Despite posters and propaganda, Army enlistments were not going well. This week, however, the Army was assured of a trickle of replacements. Local boards, after a two months' draft holiday, prepared notices ordering up 25,000 19-29 year-olds for the Army's September quota.

Not all U.S. males in the 19-29 age group would be taken. The revised draft law specifically exempted fathers, essential agricultural workers, veterans who had served overseas or at least six months in the continental U.S. Selective Service headquarters ordered further deferments for medical, dentistry and veterinary students, certain teachers and researchers in physical sciences and engineering. Last week exemptions were also ordered for college and university professors, home construction workers, essential production and transportation workers.

But from the manpower pool remaining after the draft-exempt had been siphoned off, the Army expected to get 200,000 draftees by the time the new law expires in April. With a prospect of 150,000 re-enlistments and volunteers to help offset discharges, the Army thought it could just about meet its authorized April strength of 1,200,000.

Less worried by manpower problems, the Navy this week closed down its 29 separation centers, totted up the final results of its demobilization program: 3,070,581 officers and enlisted men released out of a V-J day total of 3,400,000. Only non-regulars still on active duty: reserves who had volunteered to stay on until next July, a few doctors and corpsmen.

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