News In Brief

Penalty sought on guardsmen in unofficial fighting abroad

Members of the National Guard and military reserves who participate in unofficial military ventures in other nations could be imprisoned for two years and fined up to $5,000 under a bill introduced Thursday in the House.

Rep. G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery (D) of Mississippi drafted the measure after two Americans, one a captain in the Alabama National Guard, were killed in Nicaragua while flying a helicopter during an operation by antigovernment guerrillas. Mr. Montgomery said that he has long supported covert actions by the government but that reservists have no business becoming involved.