The Washington herald., 1918-06-20
55 AGE LIMIT
If NECESSARY,
CROWDER
Under Certain Conditions
Would Include Men Of
This Age in Draft.
BAKER NOT COMMITTED
Chamberlain Waits Secre-
tarys Action" Work
or Fight" Adds Few.

Provost Marshal General Crowder
Bafd last night he win recommend
that the draft age limits be extend
ed to . minimum Of from Is to IS.
Under certain conditions he will urge
that men as old as S. be made sub
ject to selective service. He made 1t
plain, however that as Provost Mar
shal General he would not initiate
legislation looking to this end.
II . move is made for the proposed
change, the general said. 1t will have
to come from Secretary Of 'War Ba-
ker, or Congress act independently OF
the War Department In adopting an
amendment to the selective service
act providing for the extension.
Gen. crowder's of1ciaI views on the
subject will not be given until he
Is formally called upon either by Sec
retary Baker or by a committee OF
Congress.
Secretary Baker stated yesterday
that he had not made any recon-
mendation to Congress that the draft
age limits be changed, and that he
would not recommend. such action at
this time. The matter is strictly up
to Congress, the Secretary declared.
Baker Does Not Object.
II Congress decides to put into effect
the proposed extension, the War De-
partment will offer no objection, the
Secretary said.
The Navy Department objects to
lowering the draft age to Is, it be-
came known yesterday. Secretary
Daniels believes such action would
seriously interfere with the recruit
ing Of the necessary number Of men
to complete the proposed increase in
the navy personnel The navy gets
its men through voluntary enlist
nents. and 1t Is believed by the de-
partment that this enrolment would
be hampered by making boys between
Is and q subject to draft.
The Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee has not yet taken any ac-
ton upon increasing the age limits,
Senator Chamberlain said once more
yesterday he had not received any
suggestions from Secretary Baker
upon the matter.
The drawing to determine the
order numbers of the men who
were registered on June now is
tentatively set for Fridaytof this
week Delay Of local boards in
completing their reports is expect
ed to result in postponement, how
ever. It is not believed that the
drawing can be held before Mon
day or Tuseday of next week.
10000 To be Gained
Preliminary reports from several
states have lead General Crowder
to estimate thaC 250.000 fighting
men will be produced by the re-
combing of the deferred classiflca-
tions, recently ordered. This num-
Der would be gained IL each local
board lifted an average Of SO regis
trants out of classes 2, 3 and 4.
One board already has added $50
to Glass 1 by re-examining ques-
tionaries and registrants them
selves.
The work or ght" order is not
expected to produce many fighting
men. Reports from all parts Of the
United States show that nearly
every man who expects to be
caught under this regulation has
sought productive employment,
rather than run the risk of being
ordered into military service.
THE effect of the work or fight
order has ben electrical" it was
said at General Crowder's office last
night Local boards report that
loafers. idlers and men in non-pro-
ductive employment are scurrying
to war industries and other pro-
ductive work"