ARMED FORCES: Gathering Might

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The quickening of U.S. military mobilization was barely discernible last week. Partly this was because, as mobilization grew, the exercise of security precautions was growing too. But there were signs of progress:

¶ The Air Force announced that it would increase to 917,000 "as soon as possible," nearly doubling its present strength. The Air Force also decided to reopen 13 more stand-by bases within the next twelve months, to expand facilities for its growth to an 84-group Air Force.

¶ Five more of the nation's 27 Air National Guard groups were called up for active duty, presumably in the defense of the continental U.S. The groups and their supporting units—about 7,500 men and 240 to 375 planes, including jet fighters—will report for duty Feb. 1. For the time being, the Air Force kept the identity of the units secret.

¶ The Navy's 838,000 inactive reservists learned that they must get written permission from the Navy before they will be allowed passports to travel outside the U.S. for more than 30 days.

¶ The Defense Department prepared to hire another 218,366 civilian employees (present total: 1,287,063), most of them to work in shipyards, arsenals and other production jobs.