Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-08
NOT PLANNED TO COMPEL
1s-YEAR. oLDs TO FIGHT
March Says They Will Be Trained and
Held in Readiness to Meet Emer-
geney-Expeets to Have 2,5oo, 900
Mon in France by Jan. 1.-senate
Eager For Action, House Takes
Time.

gets 4.UGc,0U0 trained troops, complete
ly equipped. into France.
This was the assertion Of General
March, chief of staff, to the senate
military affairs committee. in urging
all possible speed in the passage OF the
administration man power bill making
the draft age limits IS to As years, in
elusive.
General March unfolded in detail the
new army program, just formulated, to
emphasize the necessity for quick
action by congress and to impress upon
the committee how the war depart
ment is striving to bring the war to a
successful Temptation at the earliest
possible date.
Would Provide $4,000 Men.
The program calls for the organiZa-
ton of ninety-eight complete divisions
of approximately 10000 men each, or
a total OF, 1920, 900 men. This will alb
sorb all the men obtained under the
existing draft age limits.
1t is the plan Of the war department
to send eighty Of these divisions. or
5000. 900 men, to France, with all pos
sible dispatch, holding eighteenl divis-
ions, or 100000 men In reserve In this
country. while the training OF adolf
tiona1 recruits goes forward.
The committee was Informed that
the allied governments suggested that
the United states base its present pro-
gram on the sending Of LEO divisions to
France. Careful inquiry into this eug-
gestion, however. revealed that 1t
would be difficult to carry It into erect
until the shipping program reaches
greater production.
Now Depend on Brtish Ships.
The British government, It 10 under
stood. has agreed to continue the ar
rangements which have been in effect
for the last few months with regard
to. the furnishing OF ships for the
transportation Of troops to France.
These arrangements will be, con-
tinued until the American shipping
program begins to turn out tonnage In
sufficient quantities to permit the
withdrawal Of British shipping for
other much needed purposes.
The continuation Of the present
shipping arrangement with the British
government assures the maintenance
of the American troop movement TO
France at the rate OF 900 men q
month until cold weather sets In. AFTER
that 1t may have to be cut DOWN
slightly.
2,5coooo in France Jan. 1.
II Is calculated that there are four
months OF good weather ahead for
+roon movement. This would enable
the war department to add more than
another 100000 to the 1.soo. 900
already in France, raising the total
strength of the American expeditionary
forces close to the 100000 mark by
tie first OF the year.
General March told the committee he
was firmly of the opinion that the war
would be decided on the western front.
For this reason he urged the massing
of all American resources to produce
the greatest possible pressure on the
western front. He did not look with
favor upon any extensive military I'M
ldertakings In other quarters. Concen-
4ration on the western front would pro-
ance the kind of victory America
wants. he said, apd this would pave
the way to speedy solution of other
international problems.
Eighteen Year-oids Not to Fight?
| General March told the committee
that It was his opinion that the ls-
lyear-old class would not be sent to the
firing line. He explained that the war
Department wanted the age limit re-
duced to IS years simply to have young
men of that age in readiness.
It was brought out In the conference
that several members favor the COM
plete suspension Of volunteer enlist
ments. even in the navy.
This is the position of Senator Cham
berlain. of Oregon, chairman of the
committee. and Senator Wadsworths Of
New York. Much criticism has been
made lately of the large number OF en-
listments in the navy of young men
within the draft age. seeking to get
positions less arduous than in the
army. Under the plan proposed by
Senator Chamberlain and Senator
Wadsworth. all the manpower Of the
nation would be turned into one vast
reservoir, to be distributed by the au-
thorities.
The committee decided 1t would like
to hear Secretary of the Navy Daniels
on this question. and he will probably
be called to testify before the COM
mittee acts.
Senate Eager For Quick Action.
General March said it would be salts
factory to the war department if con-
grAss passed the manpower bill i'm
mediately after it resumed the trans
action of business on Aug. Is. Some
of the members of the committee. how
ever believed that the senate should
be called back into session within a
week or ten days to insure quick ac-
ton and to avoid any complications
with the unanimous consent agrac-
ment requiring consideration of tic
wartime prohibition amendment to the
exclusion of everything else after Aug.
':6.
1T is my opinion that the senate
will be called back few days before
the expiration of three dav recess pro-
gram" said Senator Sheppard. of
Texas, the 9dry" leader of the senate
and member of the military COM
mittee.
IT do not believe there will be more
than three or four days debate on the
manpower bill. Then we can have it
out of the way in time to prevent any
interference with the unanimous con-
sent agreement on the prohibition
amendment"
No Action in the House.
Representative Dent. of Alabama,