Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-05-03
Scheme for Expansion of Army
Is Prepared by President Viii
son and Cabinet.
CALL MEN AS NEEDED
Amendment to SeIective Service Law
Is Desired Providing Executive
With Blanket Authority to In
crease Army.

Washington, May "a surprise for
congress has been prepared by Presl-
dent Wilson and his cabinet with the
plan adopted for expansion OF the
army
1t is understood to have been de-
cided to request an amendment TO
the selective service law which Will
provide the president with blanket
authority to make such increases as
the war situation may demand now
or at any future time.
The purpose in urging such broad
powers for the chief executive is to
avoid the dangerous delays caused by
lengthy discussions in Congress every
time such a measure comes up.
The point is made that Congress
will still have check on the situa-
ton, as applications for equipment,
supplies and transportation must be
legislated for as each increase is
made
Depend On Ships.
Back of the plan appears an unmis-
taxable purpose to limit American
participation only to the capacity OF
overseas transportation facilities. In
the program for immediate increases,
the War department, with the coop
Grafton of the shipping board, is be-
1ieved to have prepared another sur
prise. The number of troops which
can be transported across the Attain
tic within the next 80 days is said to
be greater than any official OF the
government believed possible one
month ago.
The only official statement obtain
able at the close of the cabinet meet
ing was that the plan Secretary of
War Baker will submit to the house
military affairs committee will be
President Wilson's plan. It is under
stood that immediate appropriations
for an increase of more than 1,00C,-
900 men will be made.
Secretary Baker informed Chair
man Dent, of the committee, he
would be prepared to appear with all
details within the next IS hours.
Crowder Makes Request.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
has requested Congress to elimi-
nate from the bill extending the draft
to youths now 81 years of age, the
amendment putting at the bottom of
the eligible list those who would reg
lister under the measure and asked
that the bill basing draft quotas on
the number Of men in Glass 1 be
amended to make it's operation re-
trOactive.
General CrOwder made his request
in letters to the chairmen Of the Sen
ate and House military committees.
Of the proposal to put the new
registrants at the bottom of the list
of eligibles, General Crowder said:
"The plan proposed by this office
would result in the registrants being
given order numbers scattered
throughout the entire list of order
numbers This seems to be fairer
than the plan proposed by the
amendment. The result of the House
amendment in many jurisdictions will
be to delay the calling of these
young men for a considerable time.
In the meantime their status will
have changed They will have mar
ried or become integrated with the
industries of the country.
Moreover it establishes a precedent
which may be appealed to provided
aliens are registered under the pro-
visions of the new legislation, based
upon treaties to be negotiated"
RJTY w 8 G