The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-04
Plan to Summon Young Men
to- Colors Quickly in
SOC, 900 Increments.
IS TO % YEARS MAY
BE THE AGE LIMITS
Conscription May Be Used
for Navy Also When Re-
serves Are Used Up.

washington, April 3.-Administra :
tion plans for raising an army on the
principle of universal liability to scrv-
| ice, to be submitted to congress as
| soon as the pending war resoht tion
is adopted, are based on selcctivc con-
scription of young men to be sum
moned to the colors as rapidly as they
| can be trained and Differed. A de-
| tailed scheme for the registration of
eligibles has been worked out.
After married men and others with
dependents, those whose service is re-
quired In industries, have been ex-
empted. others within the age limits
fixed will be examined physically, and
those found fit will be selected, pos
| sibly by lot. until the first 100000 to
be trained arc secured.
1t was made clear today that SOC, 900
Is nowhere near the limit needed and
that it is expected that more than
100000 available will be found in the
first classification. Others will be
trained as rapidly as possible by Off
| GERS from the regular army, national
guard and officers reserve corps.
| Ago Limits.
| Maximum and minimum age limits
for the first call will not be made pub
lie until the plan is presented to con-
gress. In recent discussions mini
mum Of IS years and maximum OF
% years have been mentioned.
Preliminary military steps possible
under existing laws were added today
to those already taken. They included
direction by Secretary Baker that the
first class at West Point be gradu-
ated April 20, supplying 125 highly
trained young officers.
At the navy department 1t was an
nounced that steps have already beer
taken to insure close cooperation be-
tween the American fleet and those Of
the entente allies when the necessar,
authority has been granted. The Amer
ican embassy at London has been II
touch with the British admiralty.
Standardization of the munition in.
dustry will be one of the first DIRECT
steps taken under direction of the ma.
tional defense council. A continuous
and adequate flow Of weapons and
ammunition of all kinds will be in.
sured, not only for the American
forces, but to the entente armies.
1t has been discovered that under
the national defense act OF June 3
1915, the supplying of all kinds o
supplies and munitions is made oblig
atory on all firms and individuals a
"a reasonable price to be determined
by the secretary OF war" In case o
violations the government Is author
lied to seize plants and institut,
criminal proceedings. So far, however
firms generally have indicated will
ingneSs to cooperate with the gov,
ernment.
Only one big move in preparation fol
war remains to be made in the nav,
department. That Is mobilization O.
the naval militia and the various
classes of the naval reserve. The for.
mer will go to the ships OF tho line
filling out skeleton crews and inakint
the ships ready for action. From tn.
latter will come the men for the coas
patrol and submarine chaser servicel
as well as additional men for lin,
ships.
Probably $1,000 men could be added
to the navy personnel at once by thl.
mobilization. 1t has been estimated
that double that number would be re
quired for. full patrol of the Atlanti,
coast by motorboat. 1t seems prob
able that unless sufficient volunteer
respond promptly, the universal serv
ice system may be invoked to ill vi
the navy's ranks.