New-York tribune., 1918-08-08
General March Tells Sena-
tors 25O,OOO Monthly
Will Go Overseas
Appeals of Allies
Caused Draft Change
Passage of Bill Asked as
Soon as Congress Ends
Its Vacation
By Carter Field

WASHlNG L ON, Aug. line CnlCeO
States agreed with it's allies late in
July to raise the American army to
100000 men by next June and to
nantain shipments to France of $780,
900 men month at least until cold
weather, so as to have not less than
100000 men in France by spring. Cen
eal March, chief of staff, revealed to
the Senate Military Affairs Committee
to-day This plan almost certainly will
have Congresses approval.
The plans disclosed in connection
with the agreement are taken here to
mean General Foch will strike the
enemy next summer with a superiority
Of men which should be overwhelming.
The agreement was reached after
strong appeals had been made by the
Allies for more troops from this coun-
try. Senators on the Military Com
mittee inferred that the Allies had been
alarmed by the postponement of con-
sidcration Of change in the draft
ages which occurred after Secretary
of War Baker said in June there was
no necessity at that time of extending
the ages
General March explained about the
agreement with the Allies in response
to question as to why the War De-
partment had changed front in such
short time on the necessity of extend
ing the draft ages.
Would End War Quickly
The chief of staff pointed out, how
ever, that the army Of five million men
Sy next June idea was vocated by
hs Allies and accepted oy this gov
anmers not so much as an absolutely
aeeessary preeaution to guard against
nother disaster to the Entente, as an
asursnce of winning the war in the
nortest possible time.
lhe general made it clear that he be-
ae'ed the war should be fought and
son on the Western front. He made
a's point on questions by Senator'S as
% the strength of the expedition to
Aussla' and other possible fronts.
ns admitted that the last man would
'a'e been taken from Glass of the
present. draft by October Is, even in
''aoins the men brought in under the
aeasles regarding the drafting of Brit
~ aho Canadian citizens and the re-
''assincation Ct the registered men
ander the QUESTIONABLE.
ine general sal it was not the inten-
Won OF the War Department to draft
'snseen-yearold boys at once. They
''cld be taken lite later, he said,
wv meantime, by having them regis
s'ed and classified, they would be in
''1oiness when needed.
~ 70 the necessity of haste, he said
q did not think it imperative that
S'nsfess should reassemble before the
~ OF the recess. bu, he did think it
1seessary that the new draft bill should
,.,l passed Immediately after Congress
"surns to work.
favors Including Navy
s,s', ms general expressed personal ap-
I::S'ai' which ne made clear was only
49,. o"h view and not that Of the de.
E.Saeh', Tor the proposal of Senator
d. as outlined in The Tribune
,s.' morning, for obtaining men fo1
As draft. "'' my '"'''s' Il
I'm. Senators sprang to the de
va,s o' the War Department at the
brm,t'n "a ms testimony when questions
H., ~. OUT that the appeal Of the Al
"a ."r more men from America came
IL, ,s'ortiy after Secretary Bakers &C
fsft ages. "Ss"''" ~ ''''
han&'or Reed said that the War De
ss s"sh, vas not to blame for provid
mucn smaller army than is nov
sr.,. contemplation when the orixina
a..' arr was passed, for the reasor
sann ~, That time the Russians hat
Isigl,'"o soldiers in the field and tn,
sn.m'l debanlc mad Lot occurred.
0e,Dtu. 'ns Italian defeat occurred il
syosr, 1917, and by Christmas, 1917
"a. minkinx man knew that Russii
80. OF the war~--certainly the rep
L., .xAtyes ~ Washington of our al
-ssm.h mhsw IT, broke In another Senator
~ Ins War Department did no
NJ, ~ isgislation which VIII put NOR
fsr ~ "a me American army 10 make u
gxauvss losses until August s, 1918.
ss..ufai Senators agreed with this
1a, 81 - made il clear 10 General Mare
ssnsy Did not include him in thei
M fsIs.ns I.as of slowness and delay in tn