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U. S. APPEALS TO OUR j EX-SERVICE MEN j --...-----.-.---.A WASHINGTON, D. C, April 5 The war department today broadcast a nation-wide appeal to ex-service men to join a reserve corps of "American Minute Men" to be instantly ready for action in case of war. The armys dramatic appeal was carried throughout the nation by radio and the press. Seventy-five thousand able-bodied former soldiers were asked to give their services to the country again, should war come. The call to colors was addressed to ex-enlisted men under thirty-six years of age, whether married or single. The war department said that the corps of 75,000 men of the enlisted reserve would be used as a part of the initial protective force in event of any national emergency. The other parts of the initial protective force consists of the regular army of 165,000 men; the national guard of 200,000 men, and the reserve officers corps of 110,000. In broadcasting its call, the war department emphasized that the appeal should not give rise to fear that war is imminent, but was being done in order to call the attention of former soldiers to the fact that they may enlist in this reserve corps of "Minute Men," and thereby retain their same rank and prerogatives which the service gave them when they left the army. The war department considers this reserve corps a vital and essential part of the initial protective force as it will be composed of trained soldiers, particularly technicians, who in todays highly mechanized armies, make up the backbone of an effective force.
