Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-12-12

Herald)
Revision OF the selective army law
at this session Of congress is neces-
sary II the United States is to beat
Germany. More men than can be pro-
duced under the present registration
will be needed before the Central
powers are decisively defeated on the
battleflelds.
This is the opinion OF many men,
bers of the general staff and other
competent military students In Wash
ington and elsewhere.
The allies have put into the field.
according to War College statistics,
more than 100000 men. Germany
and her allies have mustered about
is, 900 600. But OF the allies 81, 100000
nearly 100000 were supplied by
Russia. With Russia out of the strug-
gle the strength OF the Teutonic pow
ers and the allies is about the same.
Latest statistics of the warning ma
lions give the following numbers of
men who have been called to the col
ors:
Allies-Great Britain, seven million:
France. six million; Italy, two mil
lion five hundred thousand; Belgium,
two hundred and fifty thousand; Ser
bia, three hundred thousand; Portu-
gal, two hundred thousand; total, six
teen million, two hundred and fifty
thousand.
Teutonic Powers-Germany, nine
million; Austria.Hungary. seven mil
lion: Bulgaria, five hundred thousand;
Turkey. two million; total, eighteen
million, five hundred thousand.
These figures give Germany an ad-
vantage of more than 100000 men.
According to war department off,
Gals, when the present registration for
the national army is exhausted the
United States will have under arms.
counting the National Guard and the
regular army, about 100000 men.
This will not be enough when the
strength of the allies and the German
nations is compared. Four million
Americans on the French front would
not be strong enough to become the
military balance of power. Therefore,
the United States must prepare to
raise even greater armies. Some mem
bers of the general sta flare inclined
to believe that an American army of
100000 would be the balance of pow
er against the Germans, but others
believe 100000 or even 10, 0OO, 900 will
be needed before Germany is brought
to her knees.
The figures given above include all
the men called to the colors by all the
warning nations and do not take into
account the losses from deaths and
prisoners and wounded. 1t is safe to
assume, however, that the losses to
the allies and the Germans have been
about the same. so that the Central
powers today are actually stronger in
| man power than the allies.
The 100000 registrants under the
present selective law will not produce
more than 100000 recruits. These
added to the regular army and the Ma
tiional Guard, will not be enough to de-
the European job. More men are nee
essary under the selective law. Th,
only way to get them Is to revise tn,
ages of the present law. If the law 1.
changed to include all young men be
tween Is and 81 years of age, NOR,
than 100000 names would be addet
to the present registration lists. Thes,
registrations would produce, lit is es
timated by members of the genera
STAFF, about 1,5oG,990 recruits for tn,
National army. These men, added L
the present strength, would raise IN
armies of the United States to abou
5,5OO,OOO in number. More men woult
be secured from the Is TO 81 registra
, lions than from any other ages, be
cause at these ages the men ar
, healthier and less liable to rejection
for physical imperfections. Then, too
few men OF these ages have depend
ents.
!, BY changing the 31-year limit to 3!
, years II is estimated that another g.
. 100000 registrants would be forthcom
, ing. These probably would suppl,
, 100000 recruits.
. II this were done the American ar
, mics would total nearly 10000 men
, when both new proposed registration
are exhausted.
, The United States now has unde
arms 1,733,S20 men. These forces ar,
made up OF 100000 National Guard
100000 regular army, 616,s20 Nation
al Army, 100000 in special service
and $4,000 reserves. the remainde
consisting of aviators and special bat
, talions. such as forestry. stevedorC
, railway and gas and flame commands
, More than 100000 recruits will b.
added to the National Army mex
March when the second draft incre