Evening journal., 1918-08-05
PRESIDENT TO Fight
FOR l8-TO-45 DRAFT
If Opposition to it Develops
He Will Appear Before
Congress
MINORS CALL
AGAIN OPPOSED

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5-President
Wilson is prepared to wage finish
tight for the speedy passage OF the new
man-power bill, fixing eighteen to for
ty-fve years as the age OF military ser
vice under the selective draft.
Should any opposition develop In
Congress to the new age limits deter
mined upon by the War Department or
10 granting the military authorities the
tremendous power over 26,OOO,OOO men
OF the country, which the new man
power bill viii give them, the Presl-
dent will personally appear before
Congress and urge that all other legis-
lati0n be laid aside, temporarily IN
I'll the new draft bin is passed
Members OF the Military Committees
Of the Senate and House who viii in
troduee the measure in both branches
Of Congress today fully expect the
President TO address a joint session OF
the Senate and House on the subject Of
the draft as soon as Congress recon
venes. Strong opposition to the new
ege limits already is being voiced by
members Of the House and by a few
Senators who all along have been op-
posed TO lowering the draft age below
twenty-one years.
Whether this opposition will De
strong enough 20 cause the President
10 appear personally before Congress
and make a specific request for the i'm
mediate passage Of the new man-power
bill will be shown today, when the bill
Is introduced in the two branches Of
Congress.
An effort VIII be made by the Repub-
licans to end the recess OF Congress
before August 2i. when the Senate is
scheduled to meet again TO transact |
business. but there Is little possibility |
that this effort will be successful. Sena-
Tor Chamberlain of Oregon, chairman |
of the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs, said he expects the draft bill
will have clear sailing in tho Senate,
as there is little opposition to the
measure In that body. and that the Sen
ate can pass IL within ten days after II
This will give the War
Department plenty Of time to register
and number all Of the new draitees' ne
said. before the new classes that VIII
be provided in the changes in the draft
law will have 10 be called upon.
The House is scheduled TO reeonyene
on August 10, and Representative Dent,
OF Alabama, chairman OF the House
Committee on Military Affairs, said to-
day his committee Will have the bill in |
shape for reporting to the House on |
that date, whether or not any hearings
are held on the measure.
Representative John NJ NORM. OF
Pittsburg. who led the fight against
drafting men below twenty-one years
Of age when the original selective ser
vice bill was being considered by the
Youse Military Affairs Committee, Is
not in Washington. but it is known he
sfiu holds the view that such men
should not be called The original ages
suggested by Secretary OF War Baker
were nineteen to twenty-five, but the
House committee voted for twenty-one |
10 ,hirty-flve and the House sustained |
the committee.
At that time Mr.. NORM presented fig
ures to show that no country then
engaged in the war were men below
tN enty-one subject to service. and the
hearings disclosed that Secretary Baker
expressed surprise upon being so in
formed.
Lieutenant Colonel E. Requin, Of the
French general staff, now attached to
the French military mission in Wash
Ingfon, said concerning the present age
service in France:
''The French are subject to military
service in the active army and its re-
serve In the territorial army and its
reserve between the ages Of twenty and
forty-five. In case OF war the classes
may be kept IN active service.
1T Is thus that the class Of 1919
fyoung men barely nineteen years OF
age) have been called 10 the colors and
that we have men al the front forty
eight years Of age. Between TWENTY-FIVE |
and thirty-ave the men ere capable OF |
the greatest resistance"
Colonel Requin's reply meins that |
men of twenty years always have been /
subject 10 service. but that by special /
act Of the French Chamber and Senate /
additional olasses-men not yet twenty |
may be called for service. The class
o. 1879. which ordinarily would not ne 4
subject 70 call until next year. was
called many months ago. snd the Sen /
ate last week authorized the calling 1
OF the 1920 class, which Is the eighteen !
year-old class.
The training OF the 1919 class in
France was completed some weeks ago !
snd these men put into the actual fght-
ing. II Is considered probable that many /
OF the nlneteen-yesr men have been /
lighting with the American units In the
battleline.
Neither Secretary OF War Baker nor
any one connected with the War De-
partment has any intention OF drafting
boys one day and 1
them 10 France the next, as
some members Of Congress would rep 4
resent. Schools and colleges which
are being utilized now for special tech
nlcal training Of drafted men are TO be
further drawn into the national ser
vice for the preparation OF the eighteen
and nineteen-year-old men. The period
OF training viii be much longer than
that which is given the older men In
the military camps.
One Of the most far-reaching effects /
OF the extension OF the draft ages to /
THNN