The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-04
Selective Conscription of Young Men Will Be Basis
 of Military Scheme
NAVY TO COOPERATE
 CLOSELY WITH ALLIES
Standardization of Munitions Indus- try Is Among First Steps to Be Taken to Insure Continuous
 and Adequate Supply

Washington, April 3.-Ad- ministration plans for raising an army on the principle of universal liability to service, to be submitted to Congress as soon as the pending war resolu- tion is adopted, are based on selective conscription of young men to be summoned to the col ors as rapidly as they can be trained and officered. A de- tailed scheme for the registra- tion of eligibles has been worked out.
 After married men, others with dependents, those whose service is required in industries have been exempted, others within the age limits fixed will be examined physically, and those found fit will be selected possibly by lot, until the first 500,000 to be trained are se- cured.
 It was made clear today that 500,- 900 is nowhere near the limit needed. and that it is expected that more than 500,00O available will be found in the first classification. Others will be trained as rapidly as possible by officers from the regular army, Ma tional Guard and officers reserve corps.
 Maximum and minimum age limits for the first call are fixed in the admin istration plan, but will not be made public until it is presented to Con- gress. In recent discussions mini- mum of IS years and a maximum of z3 years have been mentioned.
 
 under existing laws were added today to those already taken. They included direction by Secretary Baker that the first class at the West Point Military academy be graduated April 20, sup plying 125 highly trained young offi- cers.
 At the navy department it was an- nounced that steps have already been taken to insure close cooperation pe- tween the American fleet and those of the entente allies when the necessary authority has been granted. The Amer can embassy at London has been in close touch with the British admiralty.
 MUNITIONS INDUSTRY
 Standardization of the munitions industry will be one of the first direct steps taken under direction of the na- tional defense council. A continuous and adequate flow of weapons and ann munition of all kinds will be insured. not only for the American forces, but to the entente armies.
 The national defense council has been planning to recommend legisla- tion to standardize prices for army supplies and munitions, but it has been discovered that under the national de- fense act of June 8, 1916. the supplying of all kinds of material is made obliga- tory on all firms and individuals at reasonable price to be determined hy the Secretary of War" In case of vio- lations the government is authorized to seize plants and institue criminal proceedings. So far, however, firms generally have indicated entire will- ingness to cooperate with the gov ernment
 BUSY SCENES
 The corridors of the war and navy departments were busy today, and an air of suppressed excitement prevailed in all offices. Immediate preparations must be made to double or treble tn1 clerical forces of both departments to meet the coming strain. New quarters clements. Buildings near the state, war and navy structure are being looked over for this purpose.
 Only one big move in preparation for war remains to be made in the navy department That is mobilization of the naval militia and the various classes of the naval reserve. The for mer will go to the reserve ships of the line, filling out skeleton crews and making the ships ready for action. From the latter will come the men for the coast patrol and submarine chaser services as we'll as additional men for line ships
 Probably 15.000 men could be added to the navy personnel at once by this mo- Utilization. It has been estimated that double that number would be required for full patrol of the Atlantic coast by mortorboat. It seems probable that un-S less sufficient volunteers respond prompt-