Selective Service Director Lewis B. Hershey indicated yesterday that he will order the drafting of 19-year-olds whenever state boards begin running into manpower shortages.
There was no indication, however, that Hershey intended to take immediate action. Local boards now are barred by Hershey's order from drafting anyone below 20.
At present, there are about 1,000,000 men classified 1-A. Draft officials figure that by July 31 the number in the pool who will actually find their way into service will total only 500,000. This is considered a relatively small pool.
Hershey has said the additional men which Selective Service will need probably will have to come from one of these groups if there is no change in the law:
About 1,500,000 4-F's rejected whether for physical or mental reasons; about 180,000 students deferred to continue their college educations; or from the 1,000,000 fathers or others deferred for dependency reasons.
In the event these groups cannot provide sufficient manpower to keep the selective service program filled, the 19-year-olds will be called, according to Hershey.
Read more in News
Design --- A School Without Direction
