New Enlistment Edict Freezes All Reserves

With College virtually frozen by the Presidential order closing voluntary enlistments into the Armed Forces, Elliot Perkins '23, director of the War Service Information Bureau, announced that future applications for the Enlisted Reserve Corps would be automatically suspended.

Although no permanent action can be taken until the Bureau receives definite orders from the War Department, Perkins said that no student over 18 years old who has not already applied would be able to enlist in any of the reserve programs.

Since the Navy has always held its ranks open to men 17 years of age, those who have not yet reached their eighteenth birthday are still eligible for a position in either the V-1 or V-5 program.

Just what will happen to the present R. O. T. C. units and future Freshmen seeking to enter the pre-officer training groups is still a mystery, according to Colonel Francis A. Doniat, professor of Military Science and Tactics.

Reserve Status Uncertain

Perkins stated that the new order offered no clue as to when members of the Enlisted Reserve Corps would be called into active service, but that unofficial reports from Washington considered postponement of induction until after February optimistic.

A plan to return college men called into the Service for further technical training is said to be under consideration by the War Department. "However, should such a plan be adopted, it could not assure that college students would be sent back to their former places of study," Perkins said. "Students would probably receive their basic training before being returned to the colleges," he added.

"The college reserve programs are under the direct control of the War Department and our actions strictly governed by it. Out duty is to stand at attention and carry out orders as they are handed down to up by the military officials," Perkins said.