Senators Get New UMT Bill

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 A bill providing Universal Military Training for youths 18 through 20 started making its way today through the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Millard E. Tydings (D.-- Md.), chairman of the committee, introduced the bill shortly after President Truman had urged passage of UMT in his "State of the Union" address.

The proposal provides for four months' training, followed by eight months in one of the reserve corps. Beyond this, however, there was no clear word today on how the bill would affect college students and on whether or not it would replace Selective Service.

House Unenthusiastic

The House of Representatives was not enthusiastic about the proposed legislation today. Many members claimed that present draft machinery made UMT pointless.

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Carl Vinson (D.--Ga.), has said he does not want to take up UMT while the draft is on. And Rep. Adolph J. Sabath (D.--Ill.), chairman of the important House Rules Committee, has come out against UMT.

However many Senators appear to favor UMT. In addition the bill has strong backing from such groups as the American Legion and from Secretary of Defense James V. Forrestal, who sees UMT as an answer to the nation's long-range military manpower problem.

Fate of the UMT bill may depend in part on the findings of a special 12-man committee appointed yesterday to study the adequacy of the National Guard and Organized Reserve Corps.

Kenneth C. Royall, Secretary of the Army, organized the group, which will be headed by James T. Byrnes, former Supreme Court Justice and Secretary of State. The group's first meeting early next month will be attended by Maj. Gen. Hanford Macnider '11, member of the Harvard Board of Overseers and former Assistant Secretary of War.

Also on the group are Charles E. Wilson, Frank E. Holman, Gen. Mark Clark, and Col. Clarence E. Barnes.