Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-28
WILSON FAV0RS
TRAINING BOYS
PRESIDENT TO URGE CONGRESS
TO ADOPT UNIVERSAL MILL.
TARY LAWS.
WOULD INSTRUCT YOUTHS
UNDER DRAFT AGE
Plans Sending Bill to Congress With
Idea Of Preparing Nation For Long
War and Having Men Available
When Need comes-Draft Extension
Hold Imperative.

Washington June 2S.-President Will
son, it is learned from an authoritative
source, is preparing to advocate uni
versal military training as war
measure.
The tentative plan Of the administra-
ton is to submit to congress at an
early date a bill extending the draft
age and also establishing universal
military training for American youths
below the draft age.
The question of providing military
training of all young men as peace
policy is to be determined after the
war. The theory is that if the presi-
dents ideal Of universal peace seems
to be attained in this war it would be
unnecessary to maintain large mill
tary establishment and the training of
youths would be abandoned. IT, how
ever, the recurrence of war should APP
pear possible the nation would have in
operation a system of universal mill
tary training which could be continued.
Explains Bakers Action.
1t transpired that the prospective
embodiment of this plan in an admin
istration measure accounted for Secre-
tary Bakers urgent recommendation
that the senate postpone action on
the proposed extension Of the draft age
until the war department completes
survey of national. manpower and
brings in a comprehensive scheme for
the expansion of the army.
The general staff of the army Is now
g. =; ho tive MA
velopment of the armies which must
be relied upon to defeat Germany. The
staff will submit to Secretary Baker
and President Wilson a detailed report
showing the forces that can be raised
by extending the draft age to various
limits.
1t WAS only recently. however, that
the staff received instructions to draw
I'D a scheme of universal military
training as a war measure in conjunc-
ton with the extension of the draft
age.
Realizes Size of Task
Mr.. Wilson hitherto has not been
favorably disposed to the Immediate
institution of universal service, an
attitude which found reflection in Sec
rotary Bakers annual report consign
ing the matter to consideration after
the close of this conflict, which he is
confident will end the rule of force
forever.
The president, however, has been i'm
pressed with the magnitude Of the task
of winning the war, which devolves
principally upon the manpower of
America. He foresees the possibility
of the war continuing three more years
or even longer with the United States
called upon to dispatch million after
million of men across the seas.
He has reached the conclusion that
the extension of the draft age to pro-
vide the necessary millions of soldiers
is imperative and it is in connection
with this problem that he began to
favor immediate adoption of the prin-
ciple Of universal service.
Look to Young Men.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
has advised the commander in chief
that the extension Of the draft age
upward will provide considerable
number of fighting men. but will be
chiefly valuable in placing larger
number under military control which
will permit their mobilization in indus