Evening journal., 1918-08-13

making Congress the subject for crit.
icisms for the delay In enlarging the
draft. for which they declared secre-
tary Baker and General March. chief
Of staf, were responsible.
Senator Reed urged the speedy pas
sage Of the bill He reviewed the MILL
tary successes OF the Central Powers up
to a month ago to emphasize the tre-
mendous task for the United states in
winning the war
III there Is a disaster in Europe, we
have 100000 Of our men there without
any means Of getting them back" said
Senator Reed. mot only Is the die
cast; not only is the Rublcon crossed /:
the die Is irrevOcably cast and we must
either win this war or we must suffer
national humiliation and disgrace that
will turn back our progress for at
least century Of time
1t IS my judgment. and ! think it IS
the judgment Of you all, that II we can
get an irresistible force upon the other
shore then this war will be short, and
10 Will be the saving OF bloodshed and
OF life and Of misery"
Senator Chamberlain interrupted Sen
ator Reed 10 declare that the task be-
fore the nation should not be minimlzed
and called attention TO an article In the
National Review, Of London. for July.
1913, IN which It was estimated that
Germany can mobilize 100000 troops
In ieis-t9 as compared with 100000
with which the Allies can confront
them.
Senator Thomas took occasion 10
warn the Senate Of the danger OF the
troop movement outstrlpplng Americas
ability 10 maintain them in France
The idea I wish TO convey is this
That our expedition in training. and
getting troops into France should not
outrun our capacity for taking care Of
them after they shall have been en-
barked," said the Senator.
The Senator'S then criticized the delay
In the War Department in submitting
the man-power bill.
81 wish to state here that last May !
or June the Senate was ready and
anxious 10 act then on an extension OF |
The age limit below twenty-one and /
above thirty-one; but we were told by .
he gentlemen who are now insisting .
on speed that we should cease our ef- I
'orts, and we did accordingly. as
lbedlent legislators ought to-" said
senator Sherman. Illinois.
Senator Cummlns, Republican. of
owa, said
1T Is the rankest injustice 10 lay
ne fault for delay in charging the
raft upon Congress. II makes me in
isnant beyond expression 10 hear the
ntimation that Congress has been
eglectful Of its duty when. more than
hree months ago, l among others, en-
Favored to awaken interest in this
ecessity.
Everyone knew then that there must
G an increase IN the draft ages II we
'ere to raise a sufficient army. A
lOnth ago there was submitted TO !
ongress an amendment TO the draft I
w, which did exactly what the pres
lt bill proposes. 10 gave 10 the resi- {
snt the widest authority TO extend
le draft to men between the ages Of d
J and IS. But the War Department d
iked the Senate to defeat the measure.
nd. like obedlent legislators, we de d
ated It."
lie ueClafeu t1aL Jne Naf department
lnnOt explain its request for delay j
onth ago by saying that plans were ?
9ing prepared for inducting the men
ithin the new age limits into the ser
ce as the plans and the man-power
irvey did not have 10 be submitted to 4
Ongress. :
Senator Chamberlain called the at J
ntlon OF the Senate 10 the fact that
hen Secretary Baker and General {
arch asked for delay late in June, u
ley stated that the survey and plans a
n enlarging the draft could not be r
aoed before Congress before Septem- /
n, but that when the need for more
en- became urge1t they readily sub q
ltted Il a month ahead Of that time 7