Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-13
TO RECEIVE ENLlsTMENTs
 FOR DURATION OF THE WAR But Such Papers Will Not be lssued
 Until Congress Acts.

washington, Apru 1&s-Au men en- listing in the regular army or the ma
 tional guard in the present emergency
 were assured in an announcement by
 Secretary Baker today that they would be kept in service only for the period of the war. The action follow and President Wilson
 In effect this places on a wartime volunteer basis all of the men enlisted since the state of war declared. It makes available a total of 517.s6s places in the enlisted grades of the two services to men who wish to serve for the war only.
 MT. Baker laid stress on the fact that this action was contemplated when the administration bill is framed and was in no way to be construed as a compromise plan. reached as a re- suit of opposition to the draft feature of the bill. In fact the secretary pointed out that the net result of the application of the war enlistment plan would be to leave the nation without an army of any sort, regular or na- the enlistment terms of men now in those services. The whole force would then be discharged and the admins tration apparently expects that a new peace time military policy. founded on universal service, will have been en- acted by that time. It has been em- phasized that the administration war army bill is only an emergency meas ure.
 T stand firmly and unalterably in support of that bill," Secretary Baker said, without modification of its least detail"
 Hearings on the bill continued be- fore the house military committee to- day and it was decided to hear the last witnesses Saturday. The admin istration leaders hope to have con- sideration in the house under way next week.
 EoI1ouinr is a taEh1IIation bv the war of the forces proposed to be organized in the bill. so arranged as to show the exact number of vol unteers, to serve for the duration of the war only, for which provision is made in both the regular army and the national guard:
 Regular army. exclusive atnss Of 1ith ph,lip1 I,1 increments added. 293, 900.
 Present strength, 131,4S1
 Volunteers required 161,519.
 National guard including only units now organized-at war strength 32e,- s54.
 Present strength 123, ,6s5. Volunteers required 206, ,349.
 Additional:
 To replace 15o. .ooo officers and men from above forces as personnel for first 500.900 se- Lective conscripts, 150,000.
 Total number of volunteers for war oervice only, 517,868-
 In aod1tlon to LHeSe hsureS IHe us charge from the regular army and na- tional guard of men with dependent relatives and for other causes will ere ate additional vacancies which will be filled by volunteers.
 Under the law, the full enlistment of six years in the na .ional guard and seven years in the regular service. must be signed by all men taken into eitier service Tae bending bill provides specifically for II1raf n-of-the-war enlistment con- racts, but this cannot be applied un- il congress acts. To meet the inn mediate situation, the secretary has directed that recruiting officers assure nen accepted during the emergency hat the contracts will not be enforced against them; but that they will be discharged at the close of he war.