The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-05-02
BAKER TO REQUEST
AUTHORITY To Use
UNLIMITED syyiiY TO
|. DEFEAT - HUNS
Secretary of War Wants Re-
strictiOns as to Size of
Force Removed by
Congress
DENT INTRODUCES
BILL FOR MILITARY
FORCE OF 100000
All Indications Are That
Preparations to Get Men
Across Are Being
Hurried

Washington, May 1.-Secre-
tary Baker will carry to Con
gress tomorro with earmy in
crease programme mapped out
| bv President Wilson and his
advisers based on the determ-
ination to win the war il it
takes the whole man power of
the nation to do it. There are
indications that he will ask
that all retrictions on the num-
Der Q troops to be raised be
removed and the government
authorized to mobilize as many
men as it can equip, train and
send to the battle front in
France.
When the War Secretary appears
before the House military committee
with supplemental estimates for the
army, he is expected to disclose that
the department has reason to believe
it can handle during the present year
at least double the existing force
under arms of approximately 1,6O0,-
600 men.
That would mean a total of $780, 900
soldiers for whom clothing, equipment
and transportation are now in sight
Should additional facilities become avail
able, however, it is indicated that Pres
dent Wilson wishes to be able to call out
more men without delaying to seek au-
thority.
Evidences came today in various ways
of the effort that already is being made
to send American armies into the fight
in such numbers and in such time as to
make victory certain. In the morning
heads Of the shipping board and the war
industries board met with the war
council, composed of army officials De-
tails of additional ships and supplies were
gone into. it is understood, on the basis
of the recent surveys of the situation
Later the Presidents war cabinet met
with him in the White House, and went
over the ground thoroughly. Secretary
Baker remained more than an hour with
the President after the other members of
the war cabinet had left
DENT INTRODUCES BILL
In the House, Chairman Dent, of the
military committee, introduced a bill
that would authorize the mobilization and
organization of 4,0O0O00 selective service
men, instead of the 100000 to which the
Mr. Dent said the measure was his own
and he had not consulted the war de-
partment on it.
Under the new classification scheme
there are understood to be 100000 mon
Immediately available for active military
service in Glass l. That estimate is
based on the returns of numerous states
and the law of averages. 1t excludes
all men rated as fit only for limited
special service, all delnquents. slated
for immediate induction into Glass l
when apprehended, and all of the So
called remedial cases, the men who will
be fit for active service after operations
or medical treatment to correct minor
physical defects. Behind that. also, stand
the men who have reached q years since
the draft act was passed and who will
be brought in under pending amend
ments. Probably the total of electives
in Glass will prove to be 2.500000 men
when the definite figures are available.
FIRST RESERVOIR
This is the first reservoir from which
men will be drawn to fill up the new
armies. 1t is conceivable that Class |
will be exhausted in time, but not that
il would fail to furnish all the men who
can be shipped to France before Con-
gress meets again. For this reason it is
regarded as probably mat the question of
increasing age limits of the draft act or
of drawing upon Glass can be deferred
until Congress again convenes.
While plans for the future have been
shaping up for presentation to Con-
gress, the war department has been
pressing vigorously its efforts to ex-
pedite the movement to France Of men
already under arms. Secretary Baker
appeared today before the conference
of shipping board officials with ship
owners and seamen's unions to urge
prompt manning of new ships He
(Continuea on Page Two)