Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-05

Opposition has developed to the guaran.
teeing Of foreign bond issues, but It ap:
peared probable that the United States.
having raised money in this country,
would purchase the bonds Of ono or more
Of the entente allies at low interest. and
In that way furnish them with ample cap.
ital with which to further their own war
plans.
'sELECTrvE CONsCR1PT1ON.'
Administration plans for raising an
army on the principle Of universal
liability to service, to be submitted to
Congress as soon as the pending war
resolution is adopted, are based on selec.
tive conscription Of young men to be sum-
moned to the colors as rapidly as they
can be trained and differed. A detailed
scheme for the registration Of eligibles
has been worked out
After married men, others with de-
pendents. those whose service IL required
In industries have been exempted, others
within the age limits fixed will be ex-
amined physically, and those found At
will be selected. possibly by lot. until
the first 100000 to be trained are secured
100000 NOT LIMIT.
1t was made clear to-day that 100000
is nowhere near the limit needed. and
that 1t is expected that moro than 100000
available will be found in the first
classification. Others will be trained as
rapidly as possible by officers from the
Irregular army, national guard and officers
reserve corps.
Maximum and minimum age limits for
the first call are fxed in the administra-
ton plan, but will not be made public
until 1t Is presented to Congress. In re-
cent discussions minimum OF IS years
and a maximum of % years have been
mentioned.
GRADUATION AT WEST POINT.
Preliminary military 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 125 highly trained young OIL.
GERS
At the navy department 1t was an.
nounced that steps already have been
taken to insure close cooperation be-
tween the American fleet and those Of
the entente allies when the necessary
authority has been granted. The Am
erican embassy at 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.
TO sTANDARD1zE PRICES.
The national defense council has
been planning to recommend legisla.
ton to standardize prices for army
supplies and munitions but 1t has been
discovered that under the national de-
tense act Of June 8. 1916. the supplying
Of all kinds of material 10 made oblig-
atory on all firms and individuals at
"a reasonable price to be determined
by the secretary of war" In case OF
violations the government Is authorized
to sieze plants and institute criminal
proceedings. So far. however. arms
generally have indicated entire will
Mngness to cooperate with the gov
eminent
The corridors of the war and navy
departments were unusually busy to-
day. Immediate preparations must be
made to double or treble the clerical
forces Of both departments to meet the
coming strain.
NAVAL MILITIA AND RESERVES.
Only one big move tn preparation
for war remains to be made in the
navy department. That Is mobiliza.
ton Of the naval militia and the var.
ious classes of the naval reserve.
Probably $1,000 men could be added
to the navy personnel at once by thie
mobilization. 1t has been estimated
that double that number would be re-.
quired for full patrol Of the Atlantic
coast by motor boat. 1t seems proba.
BILE that unless sufficient volunteers
respond promptly. the universal serv-
ice system may be invoked to I'LL up
| the nGvy's ranks.
BIDS FOR BIG GUNS.
Bids were opened at tho war de-
go in the coast defenses. The Beth
iehem Steel company was the only
bidder. Offering two or four guns
complete at s225.00o each or without
| breach .nechanicism at 32l5.000 each.
STATUS OF NATIONAL GUARD.
It was pointed out that under the
present national defense act the ma.
tional guard can be brought to its full
war strength by draft The force has
an authorized total strength Of $4,000
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.
It is not known whether the war
department contcmplates any change in
the present status of the guard. These
troops would not be available for
service in Europe under existing law
and, in addition. the full number may
be required for police work at home.
More than $4,000 are now SO employed.