Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-05
NEW ARMY WILL Be
RECRUITED BY DRAFT
First Fighting Force of Halt
Million Men Formed From
Young Unmarried Men.
AGE LIMITS NOT STATED

Washington, April 3.-Administra-
ton plans for raising an army on the
principle of universal liability to serv-
ice to be submitted to congress as
soon as the pending war resolution is
adopted are based on selective con-
scription of young men to be sum
moned to the colors as rapidly as they
can be trained and officered. A de-
tailed scheme for the registration Of
eligibles has been worked out.
After married men, others with de-
pendents, those whose service is re-
uuired in industries have been ex-
empted, others within the age limits
fixed will be examined physically, and
those found fit will be selected, posi-
bly, by lot until the first 100000 to be
trained are secured.
Half Million Not Enough.
1t was made clear today that 500
600 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.
Maximum and minimum age limits
for the first call are fixed in the ad-
ministration plan but will not be made
public until presented to congress. In
recent discussion a minimum of IL
years and a maximum of % years
have been mentioned. Preliminary
military steps possible under existing
laws were added today to those al
ready taken. They included direction
by Secretary Baker that the first class
at the West Point Military academy
be graduated April 20, supplying IFS
highly trained young officers.
At the Navy department it was an
nounced that steps have already been
taken to insure close cooperation be-
tween the American feet and those of
the entente allies when the necessary
authority has been granted. The
American embassy in London has
been in close touch with the British
admiralty.
Standardization of the munitions 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 am
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-
ton to standardize prices for army
supplies and munitions, but it has
been discovered that under the ma
tonal defense act Of June 3, 1916, the
supplying of all kinds of material is
made obligatory on all firms and indi-
viduals at "a reasonable price to be
determined by the secretary of war"
In case of violations the govern
ment is authorized to seize plants and
institute criminal proceedings. So far,
however, firms generally have indi-
| Gated entire willingness to cooperate
with the government.
Only one big move in preparation
for war remains to be made In the
Navy department. That is mobiliza-
ton of the naval militia and the vari-
Gus classes of the naval reserve. The
former 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 well as additional
men for line ships.
Probably $4,000 men could be added
to the navy personnel at once by this
mobilization. 1t has been estimated
that double that number would be re-
CURED for full patrol Of the Atlantic
coast by motor boats. 1t seems prob
able that unless sufficient volunteers
respond promptly, the universal serv-
ice system may be invoked to fill up
the navy's ranks.
In connection with the army plans
it was pointed out today that under
the present national defense act the
National Guard can be brought to its
full war strength by draft. The force
has an authorized total strength of
100000 and its present strength is
about 100000 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. 1t
is not known whether the War de-
partment contemplates any change in
the present status of the Guards.
These troops would not be available
for service in Europe under existing
| law and in addition the full number