Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-06

wirelessed or telegraphed all stations,
navy yards and ships as follows:
"The president has signed an act Of
congress which declares that q state OF
war exists between the United States
and Germany"
Sees World Peace at End.
In . statement approving the army
plan presented to congress by the war
department. President Wilson today
said that the hope Of the world is that
when the European war Is over ar
rangements will have been made COM
posing many Of the questions which
have hitherto seemed to require the
arming Of the nations" The presi-
dents statement follows:
"The principle embodied in the iegis-
lation presented by the war depart
ment to the military committees Of the
senate and house have my entire ap-
proval.
1T proposes to raise the forces nec-
essary to meet the present emergency
by bringing the regular army and ma
tional guard to war strength and by
adding the additional forces which will
be needed 50 that the national army
w!l! comprise three elements, the resu-
lar army. the national guard and the
so-called additional forces, of which
500.0 900 are to be authorized immedi
ately and later increments of the same
size as they may be needed.
For Period Of Emergency.
I'm order that all these forces shall
comprise single army the term Of en-
listment in the three is equalized and
win be for the period Of the emergency.
THE necessary recruits will be Sc
cured for the regular army and natl
onal guard by volunteering until in til
judgment of the president resort to
selective draft is desirable.
'The additional forces, however, are
to be obtained by selective draft from
men ranging in age from 10 to 25 years.
The, quotas Of the several states in all
Of these forces will be in proportion to
their population.
This legislation makes no effort to
solve tho question Of permanent force
for the United States. because in these
troubled ,<fmes = clear view can not be
had of tho needs Of our country and the
best mode Of organising q proper peace
establishmenh
"a Adapted TO Present Need.
THE hope Of the world is that when
the war Is over arrangements will have
been made composing many of the
questions which hitherto have seemed
to require the arming of nations and
that in some just way the peace of the
world may be maintained by such CO.
operation Of force by the great ma
tons as may be necessary, to maintain
peace thruout the world.
when these arrangements are made
we can determine our military needs
and adapt our course to the organiza-
tions necessary for Justice and democ-
racy.
'"The present bill therefore is adapted
to present need but is drawn on such
lines that we may continue 1t in whole
or in part as may seem wise when
the present crisis has passed"
Ordnance estimates include additional
provisions for the coast defenses. Pre-
sumably the five year project began
last year Is to be spfeded up. Some ad-
ditional minor defenses probably are
planned too.
Army officials are hopeful that con-
gress will accept the plan Of its military
advisrs virtually without amendment.
They have no indication, however, Of
the reception by congress Of the pro-
posal to apply selective conscription al
most from the outset.
Provisions For Volunteers.
Every effort has been made to pro-
vide in the extended regular army and
national guard for volunteers. There
will be place for every man who seeks
rank as an officer and who can demon
strate his right to leadership.
Volunteer regiments taken into the
service as such are disapproved. A
complete homogeneous army is what is
being planned with lines of distinction
between its various elements complete
ly wiped out to secure elasticity Of
structure. General star officers believe
this is vital to modern military ef1i-
cheney.