Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-05
u. S. LIKELY TOINCREASE
ARMY TO 100000
Estimates Of War Department Ex-
pected to Provide for That
Number.

The War Department practically has
decided to provide for an army Of 81
100000 men next year. It is stated
that estimates now being PREPARED for
submission to Congress next month
are based on maintenance of such a
force. This plan, while 1t is subject to
change, is said to represent the DOM
inant view of the General STAFF.
If such a decision is approved by Sec
rotary of War Baker and by Congress,
1t will mean the4placing in the field of
approximately 100000 additional men
from June 80, 1918. to June 30, 1919.
AS these dates are rather far in the flu
ture 1t Is apparent thats the present
plan may be subject to revision. The
War Departments plan up to June 80,
1918, calls for an army Of 2.033,345 men
and 65,042 officers, a total strength of
2,0SS.3S7. This force is distributed as
follows:
Regular Army, 1903 officers and
47O,185 men; National Army, 1892 Of
ticers and 656.S60 men; National Guard
1887 officers and 456,S00 men; replace
ment units for all forces, $500 officers
and 100000 men.
Two Additional Calls Probable.
Plans for expenditures for force of
5000, 900 men in the field would indi-
cate, Army officers said today, that
there will be two additional calls I'M
der the selective draft act between
now and June 80, 1918. In stating that
the proposals call for 100000 It was
pointed out that this Is approximate
and that the detailed estimates being
prepared by the adjutant general prob
ably will allow for something over that
Provost Marshal General Crowder has
estimated that the classification of Sc
1ected men under the new regulations
will. require until February Is at the
earliest, with the indications that sew.
era1 weeks longer will be required to
complete the enormous clerical work Of
putting every man subject to the draft
in his proper order of call. Secretary
Baker has declined on numerous occa-
sions to indicate the date Of the second
call Of 100000 men.
Although the wording Of the Kahn
Chamberlain selective draft act ap-
pears to empower the President to call
100000 men in quotas of 100000, the
Judge advocate Of the Army has con-
strued It to provide for the calling of
as many additional men as the Presi-
dent may deem necessary.
There is q belief in some circles that
the War Department can call only S13,-
with the $4,000 in the first draft,
would make a total of 1000 900, but
Secretary Baker in his testimony be-
fore the House appropriations. commit
tee on July 80 told Chairman Fitzger-
aid that the second call would be for
500 900 men and to raise by draft in
addition to these forces 'such recruit
units as he may deem necessary for
the maintenance of such forces at their
maximum strength"
Replacement Units" Necessary.
This paragraph in the act is con.
strued as giving the President broad
powers to call as many men as he sees
fit, under the guise of Replacement
at least ninety men will be required
behind the line for every 400 men in it.
sit may be even more than that DUR
ing active operations" said Secretary
Baker "We must be ready to shove
men right into the line to replace men
who are lost"
It Is thus apparent that no additional
legislation is necessary to enable the
President to summon to the co1ors as
many additional men as he sees it, so
long as they are declared necessary as
replacement units.
It is generally believed that the men
called under the second draft will
reach the cantonment some time in the
late spring or early summer, which
would give the men in the first Ma
tiona1 Army an average of six months
training. If the plans Of the War De-
partment for maintenance of an army
OF 100000 during the year beginning
the first of next July are sanctioned IL
would indicate third can next winter.