Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-04
ARMY PLAN BASED
ON C0NSCR|PT|0N
Young Men to Be Summoned as
Rapidly as They Can
Be Trained.
AGE LIMITS ARE FIXED
Made Clear That 100000 Is No
where Near Number
Needed.
'GE LIMITS ARE FIXED

n'a"e ior raising an army on the
p''"e'P'e OIL universal liability TO scrv-
'ce' |" nc submitted to Congress az
Hoo" as the pending war resolution is
auopte"' are based on selective con-
'p''oh OF young men to be summoned
'''e coiors as rapidly as they can
DE trained and ofiicercd !, detailed,
,"e.'e lor the registration OF cIigi-
pies mas been worked out
After married mon. otbers u;,h H.
pendcnts and those whose service ia
required in industries have been a.,
cmpteh. others within the age lin,i,s
fixed will be examined phvsic,,,,. 80
those found fit viii, be selected no.s,-
bly, by lot. until the first 100000 10 he
trained arc secured
100000 Is NoWUERE
NEAR LIMIT NEEDED
IL was made clear to-day that 80,
200 is nowhere near the limit needed
ana IT is expected that more than 500
$50 available will be found in the frst
ciassihcatlons. Others will be trained
AS rapidly AS possible by officers from
inc regular army. National Guard and
olicers reserve corps.
Maximum and minimum age limits
.or me hfst call are fixed in the admin
Stration plan. but will not be made
public until it is presented to Congress
III recent discussions minimum OF
eighteen years and maximum NJ
."entS-three years have been men
toned
Preliminary piltary steps possible
under existing laws were added to-day
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 12o highly trained young Of
ficers.
Al the Navy Department it was an
nounced that steps have already been
taken to insure close co operation be-
tween the American fleet and those OF
me entente allies when the necessary
authority has been granted. The
'hHss1c4n nN'htnhassy at London has been
IN close touch with the British Al.
miraity.
STANDARDIZATION of the munition in.
uus'rS VIII be one OF the first direct
steps taken under direction of the Ma
''ohai Defense Council. continuous
ana adequate flow OF weapons and am
munitfon of all kinds will be insured
not only for tho American forces hut
TO the entente armies.
SUPPLYING: OF MATERIAL
is MADE OBLIGATORY
The National Defense Council ba.
oeeh Planning to recommend legisIa-
lion 10 standardize prices for army.
supplies and munitions. bu, II b,. hoo,,
discovered that. under the national
defense act of June 5, 1915 tho srn-
plying OF all kinds of material is made
obligatory oil all firms and individuals
at "A reasonable price. TO be deter.
mined by the Secretary OF War" In
case OF violations, the government, &c
authorized to seize plants and institute
criminal proceedings. So far, however.
hrms generally have indicated entire
Willingness to cooperate with the gov
ernmcnt
me corridors of the Navy and war
departments were busy to-day. and an
arr or suppressed excitement prevailed
IN all offices. Immediate preparations
must be made to double or treble the
clerical forces OF both departments to
meet the coming strain. New quarters
must be found to house the new civil
elements. Buildings near the State.
war and Navy structure are being
looked over for this purpose.
ONE BIG MOVE REMAINS
FOR NAVY DEPARTMENT
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
ciasses OF the naval reserve The
former will go to the reserve shins
ot the line filling out skeleton crews
and making the ships ready for action.
In
the coast-patrol and submarine-chaser
services. as we'll as additional men for
line ships
Probably $1,000 men could be added
TO the navy personnel at once by this
mobilization. 1t has been estimated
that double that number would be re-
quired for full patrol of the Atlantic
coast by motor-toats. 1t seems prob
able that, unless sufficient volunteers
respond promptly, the universal serv-
ice system may be invoked TO fiji up
the navy's ranks.
Bids were opened at the War De-
partmcnt to-day for sixteen.inch rifles
to go in the coast defenses. The Reth-
lehem Steel Company was the only
bidder Offering two or four guns COM
plete at s225.000 each. or without
breech mechanism at s2lo.OO0 each
These guns are part of the new coast
defense program approved by Congress
Il year ago.
In connection with the army plans.
1t was pointed out to-day that under
the present national defense act. the
National Guard can be brought to it's
full war strength by draft. The force
has an authorized total strength Of
100000. and It's present strength is
about 10000. Orders to muster out
men, with dependent families and those
in the government service or at, work
on government contracts may reduce
this number considerably.
GUARD MAY he REQUIRED.
FOR rOtICss WoRK AT HOME
1t is not known whether the War
Department contemplates any change
i'll the present status OF the guard.
These troops would not be available
for service .- Europe under existing
law. and, L. EGH;tion. the full number
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