Army secretary backs plan to register women

Army Secretary Clifford L. Alexander Jr. told an ABC News "Issues and Answers" television panel Sunday that he feels women should be included in registration of young people 18 to 26, to be done at US post offices after Congress has appropriated funds.

Mr. Alexander said President Carter would decide the issue. He repeatedly stressed that the registration plans announced by the President last week would not include induction of anyone in an actual draft.

Induction would be done only in a major national emergency and would require new authority from Congress, if a large increase in personnel were ever needed to bolster the all-volunteer armed forces, the Army secretary added.