New-York tribune., 1918-08-07
Secretary Six Weeks Ago
Rlocked Amendment He
Now Wants Rushed
Criticised by Senators
For Change of Front
Military Affairs Committee
Favors Proposed Exten-
sion Of Age Limits
By Carter Field


at Secretary of War Baker for having
onposed the Senate extending the draft
aces less than six weeks ago and now
insisting that Congress must act not
only without delay but practically
without consideration developed in
the Senate Military Affairs Committee
to-day.
The committee decided to question
both Mr. Baker and General March.
the Chief of Staff, as to what caused
the sudden change of heart.
Secretary Baker, after announcing
the draft ages he desired, left for the
West. He is not expected back before
Thursday. SO the committee probably
will have TO content itself with ques-
tioning General March tomorrow, de-
lsying the questioning of the Secre-
tary until later.
Practically all of the discussion in
the committee to-day revolved around
the War Departments changed atti-
tude. 1t was pointed out that the orig
inal amendment to the army bill, Of
fered by Senator Fall, of New Mexico,
provided for exactly the ages now
asked by the department-eig Eighteen to
forty-ive.
Little Opposition to Ages
There was little opposition in the
committee to the ages proposed, Sen
ators McKellar. Of Tennessee, and
Kirby, OF Arkansas, being the ones who
voiced opposition to lowering the age
below twenty-one. Senator Reed, of
Missouri, is on the fence, but may
vote for the eighteen-year minimum,
while Senator Sheppard, OF Texas, is
non -committal, but will support the
minimum proposed if he is convinced
that the Presidc2. really wants it.
Chairman Chamberlain and nearly
all the Republican members of the
committee are heartily in favor of the
ages proposed first by Senator Fall and
now by the Secretary of War. But it
was found impossible TO-DAY to cut Off
the discussion of why the War Depart
ment had SO suddenly seen the necessity
of having more man power when such a
short time ago the Secretary and Gen
eral March had come up to the Capitol
to prevent the Senate adopting an
amendment of precisely the same
figures
Senators on the committee were in
terested in checking up the statements
OF Provost Marshal General Crowder in
this connection. He stated to the COM
mittee Yesterday that it might be neces-
sary for men TO register as they at
tanned the age Of twenty-one week by
week, so as 10 provide a sufficient flow
OF drafted men to the camps from Sep
tember on.
Plan Pooh Poohed by Baker
Yet it was pointed out in committee
that Secretary Baker questioned less
than ten days ago the statement OF
representative julius Kahn, of Cali
fornla, ranking Republican member Of
the House Military Affairs Committee,
that the Class / men in the present
draft would be exhausted by Septem-
Der |
Why were all these studies neces-
sary for the War Department to reach
the conclusion that the extension OF
graft ages was imperative unless Class
men were to be taker?" one member
OF the committee demanded. eve knew
before We began this recess-we knew
wnen we were ready to adopt Senator
ra!Is amendment-that it was neces-
sary to extend the ages.
We were not planning to take that
step for amusement. We were plan
nlhg II because we realized, from the
hgures before us, that il was neces-
ssary to take it. And if il had not
oeen that the Secretary of War came
up mere. with the influence Of the Ad-
miAlstretion behind MIN. and turned
ment number Of Senators we would
nave given the department their in
creased ages at that time.
We knew approximately how many
men would be gotten by the applica-
}lon OF the draft treaty, and the War
department had a very accurate idea
q now many additional men it could
set ~ The reclassihcation of the men
already segregated in classes. II that
mad been done Provost Marshal Cen
tfai SrS7W~r would not be rushed and
put ~ against an almost impossible
situation now"
More Delay Expected
The attitude taken by this Senator
vas expressed by others No one in
me cor rnittee really believes that the
registration under tho new draft can
De made on September 5, which Gen
era C'ow5er thinks necessary. It
would have been simple f the draft
ages hac been amend I'd when Congress
vas ANXIOUS TO 90 ahead with the
change
Eut here il doubt now as to whether
any tine would be saved By calling
me senate back before the end of the
recess, August - Certainly the com
"a lttce vii not be ready for some time.
,, IN ADDITION there is the fac. that the
mouse r@cess ends ore week earlier
nan the senate recess, on August 10,
'ezs than two weeks OF Further. il is
assured tha. there will be a warm fight
~ ne House against lowering the age
-Fom f"en.y-one 10 eighteen, 50 that
@oFne time @lll be congumed there. IF
ne House takes the Dill up first. be
1ofe the measure u sent over 10 the
senate.
Wants Navy Included
sght 10 include the navy in the
ne" draft act, 40 that the requirements
.; sne navy and Marine Corps viii be
niisd from the draft quotas, Just az IA
nc National Army, VIII be made in
sonnn .ttee BY Senator Wadsworth, Of
.'S~ YORK. He announced this tonight,
A@y'ng that II the draft ages are made
e'gntsen 70 forty-fve the effect on vol
mary enlistments may prevent the
"~Yy IRON obtaining it's supply Of men
-".ssS ..s Sorne such arrangement IL made
&C.,. you'd Ike 70 put An end n the
IRON, ne pointed out. "of men rush
* 70 enlist IN the navy jus, before
~ tn.nk sheu VII be raftea L.