The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-08-08
Such Announcement Made in
Explanation of Bill Extend
ing Draft Ages.
GEN. MARCH HEARD
AT GREAT LENGTH
Enlarged Military Pr0gr a m
Needed to Garry Out Policies
of u. S. Agreed Upon.
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

washington, Aug. - Backed
by reservoir of Ave million Amer
lean troops, Marshal Foch is pre-
pairing to hurl the entire united
military strength of France Great
Britain and the United States
against the Germans on the west
ern front in order to bring the
war to a VICTORIOUS conclusion at
the speediest possible time. Next
spring will see the terrific conflict
in full swing. when Foch's armies
will be striking with all their pow
er
This impression was made to-
day on the senate military COM
mittee, when Chief OF Staff March
explained the war departments
reasons for asking for an extension
of draft ages to include all men
IS to As. It Is contemplated
place an army of substanfiaAy
tbrea million Americans in France
Le.re .prfng campaign opens.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Tn urging en-
actment of the administration man
power bill extending draft ages 10
from 1s to As years, General Marcn
told the senate military committee to-
day that the war department plans an
army of approximately five million
men to be raised as soon as possible
While realizing importance OF the
measure, General March said he oio
not believe it was necessary to recall
congress before the present recess piar
expires on August "a providing Ins
hin could be reported at that time.
About July 80. General March said
tn United States reached decision
/ to enlarge it's military program to car
nv out the policies agreed upon at tn
/ recent inter-allied. conference at Parl
| to speed up prosecution of the wa
4 and bring it to an early conclusion.
The chief of staff entered into
general discussion of the necessity 10
amending the present law.
Questioned by senators regardin
tb. apparent change of front" OF tn
war department in it's program, GEL
eraI March told Of the government
decision in accord with the Paris col
ference.
For the new program, Secretar
Baker and other officials conclude
that there must be an extension OF II
draft age.
while about three million men 81
now under arms, army o1ricials tnln
there should be approximately fiv
million men at home and in Franc
Tn order not to disturb the presel
draft system and to avoid calling ms
who had been given exemption, e.
tension of the draft ages is necessar
From General March's testimor
. and other information received, u
; committee has gained the impres
: that while all men between the ag
: of 1s and Is would be subject to mi
> tarv dutv under the new law 1t is ~
a nosed those between IS and 20 yea
: of age shall be kept in this count
d until the last
Trnon the suggestion OF Senat
= wadsworth that the draft system
extended TO the navy. Senator Char
a berlafn announced that either Secl
q tary Daniels or Admiral Benson wot
Is be asked to appear tomorrow befo
the committee to discuss the advisit
IL ity of she subject.
,ft Senator Chamberlain said he "
3 not sure just when the commit
le would be able TO report out the
secretary Baker. who is now out
the CITY. is expected to return SAT-
day and the committee desires to N
. him before taking any action A nu
in Der of other witnesses probably y
IS be called in addition to represen
at tives of the navy department.
is The prohibition controversy
OF hold up consideration OF the draft
r. Under the unanimous consent agr
rs ment war time prohibitionisfs 70
in taken up when the senaye reconver
in with a final vote on August 20
,s. can only be set aside by unanim
ch consent and Senator Sheppard
a. Texas. prohibition leader in the :
I3 ate. expressed the opinion today I
an unanimous consent agreeM
sr- could not be obtained unless the q
,r- bill can be taken up and disposed
with practically no debate.