The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-18
ARMY OF 100000
WILL CO TO FRANCE
Only QUESTION of Time to Arrange
Machinery To Draft ana
Muster Men.
BAKER SIZES PRESIDENT
Plan for Increasing Troops TO 5000
900. Before Eulisting larger Num-
bcr-ISoys Have Made food at
Front, Says secretary.

WASHINGTON. April 17.-Secrctary OF
War Newton u. Baker, just back from
France. today made known to Fresi-
dent Wilson the urgent need Tor a
greater American army and a maxi
mum of speed in preparations 10 meet
the growing emergency on the west
ern front. The details were commu-
nicated to the chief executive ana
the heads OF the war bureaus AT the
white House during a conference
which lasted throughout the AFTER
noon. Under the direction of MAJOR
General Payton {. March. acting HE
Of staff of Provost MarshalNieneraJ
Enoch II. Cro~der. the plans for eX-
pansion which must be submitted TO
already are taking shape.
It il estimated the size Of the mill
tarv establishment must be imme-
diately increased TO 100000 men
AS soon as the machinery for organtZa-
can be enlarged, the total viii
be pushed up to 5000, 90.
The ACCESSIBILITY Of requesting CON
gress to authorize an Appropriation
now for the larger figure is under CON
sideration. The house military affairs
committee, anticipating the increased
demand for man power. ~favoraoly re-
ppTlPu the bt4A "ilfAli "oN'N
in the draft all men who have be
come of age since June 5. 1911.
President Wilson is authorized by
this measure, which already has
passed the senate, TO call men who
become twenty-one years old at any
time during the war without further
legislation.
The enactment Of the bill is ex-
pected within the next few days. The
military authorities estimate it Will
make available approximately one
million men a al the majority of
whom will be in class one.
There must be no limit in our eft"
fort TO send the greatest possible num-
Der of men to Europe in the least
possible time" is the substance of Sec
by his associates In the administration.
The American soldier has made
good in France" Mr.. Baker told the
correspondents who greeted him at
the val department. The added
statement was confined to generali-
ties. No official report of the secre-
tary's observations while abroad will
be given TO the public until nc has
appeared before the military affairs
committee of the house.
Chairman Dent. Of the committee,
at a conference with Mr.. Baker at
the war department tomorrow, will
decide upon a date for this hearing.
The secretary n the members Of
the committee are anxious to get the
legislative machinery moving before
the close OF the present week. il pos
sible, Mr.. Baker also has agreed to
discuss his trip in several liberty loan
speeches, the first of of which is
scheduled for Saturday night. To
avoid the necessity OF cancelling the
first speaking date. it is thought the
hearing may take place on Friday.
The officials who were asked to the
White House by President Wilson to
hear the secretary OF war recount his
experiences included Chairman Hur-
ley, of the shipping board; Secretary
Daniels, of the nav department; Her
bert c., Hoover. food administrator
DIR. Harry A. Garfield. fuel admins
TRAITOR, and John shelton Williams,
representing William G., McAdoo. d.
rector-general OF railroads.