Extended Tours

When National Guard mobilization began last fall, many an officer told his men to forget that stuff about a mere year in the Army; they could count on being in "for the duration." Last week the War Department let drop a hint that "the duration" would run six to twelve months beyond a year. Announced reasons: equipment shortages, delays in mobilization had cut down actual training time so that it would take at least six months more to whip the Guardsmen into real soldiers.

By this week 255,000 Guardsmen, 213,000 conscripts or volunteer trainees were in uniform. Trainees also were nominally in for one year. But the Selective Service Act provides for the extension of their tours as well, can keep them under arms for the duration of the emergency.

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