The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-11-30
AIR, ARMY, SHIP
INCREASE TO Be
WILSON'S PLEA
Second War Message Also
Urges a Larger Navy.

with whom he has conferred on the mat
ter, the message will rank with the doc
nment in which the president recon-
mended the declaration of war lest
April.
Provision for military operations on
n much greater scale than hitherto
contemplated will be the burden of the
executive recommendations to the legis-
1ative board.
Plans Extensive Program.
Here are the principal features de-
cided upon to date
Amendments TO the draft law under
which 1t will be possible to call into
being eventually an army OF 100000
men.
Provisions for equipment and arming
of this larger force and for expanding
and speeding up the aviation and ship
building programs.
! Amendments to the existing laws un
der which it will be possible to extend
Surveillance 10 German women and Aus
tro- -Hungarians. Bulgarians and Turks
of both sexes.
Provisions for charging considerably
the naval establishment.
No Permanent Policy.
Under the administration policy dc
termned by the president the adop-
tion OF a permanent military policy for
the United Stats must await the end
OF the present war.
This decision means that President
Wilson and the civilian heads of the
great war making departments of the
government will not support as a gov
eminent measure any bill providing
for universal military training to apply
automatically to all the youths OF the
country upon reaching given age
Mr.. Wilson is expected to make
clear to congress his purpose to main
tain his stand taken upon the entrance
of the United States into the world
war, which was that all the vast mill
tary activity OF the present should be
confined solely to the needs OF the
present war situation and should have
no relation to any permanent or future
military policy.
Program Of Concentration.
Instead OF following a course which
will be described as scattering the ma
tional energy, President Wilson, it was
disclosed today, will urge the greatest
degree of concentration upon the i'm
mediate task in hand. that of winning
the war. Congress and the country
will be asked to subordinate all other
questions to the paramount business OF
crushing the German military power
Heads Of all the various depart
ments and bureaus having to do with
the direction of the. war have supplied
President Wilson with the data which
he wanted before him while preparing
his first message to congress since the
active participation of the country in
the conflict
Little Me- 'Ion of Suffrage.
Questions such as suffrage and pro-
hibiton will receive a merely passing
il any reference, in the presidential
message. 1t is understood that the
result Of the election in New York en-
franchisng the women OF the most
popuIous state will make no difference
in the attitude of the president lie
will maintain the position that it is a
matter to be decided by the states and
will make no recommendation for the
adoption of federal amendment.
Necessarily the increased needs OF
The military establishment will be the
reenttal feature of the message, The
sSirst seven months of the war have
demonstrated the soundness Of the
tmilitary experts of the government in
Fhrging a great increase in the armed
Pforces of the country. Accordingly, con-
kkre,s will be asked to provide the ma
Ehinery for the doubling OF the size OF
1he present land forces OF the country
The legislation to be asked will per
Unit the government to go ahead, a'
circumstances may require, With th'
|lraising a first line army OF 4OOOW
u linen and reserve bringing the total &c
IS 100000
h 1t was learned on the highest au
kthority today that President Wilson
positively will suggest the lifting of the
sronscripton age limit from 30 years tC
!35 TO 40 years This is advocated by
seome of the members Of the military al
Hairs committees of both thc house anC
ksenate.
Favor 19 to 30 for Army.
Z II there is to he any change in tn,
Wage limit so far as the recommenda
Elton of the executive branches OF th
government is concerned, it will b
sdownward. The army experts ar,
strongly in favor OF including in tn
draft all males from l9 to 80 years
kThe heads of the government, how
h ever, still believe that the expande
karmy can be raised from among tn
tdraft all males from l9 to 70 years
The heads Of the government, how
ever, still believe that the exnapne
army can be raised from among tn
Y approximately 100000 men subIec
10 draft under the present regulations
The question Of a flat declaration O
war against Austria is still in abeyanc'
Tn present disposition OF Presider
Wison and his aNisers is to contlnu
TO avoid formal declaration OF wal
It was learned today, however, th'
President Wilson is balancing the tw
sides Of the question in his mind, an
there was a strong intimation that tn
issue, so far as the presidential mes
sage is concerned is yet to he deter
mined definitely
Regardless of whether war Is dt
elared on Austria, the government wi
proceed with vigor, il was stated, on III
question of Austrian spies A diScu'