The Sauk Centre herald., 1918-06-20
DRAFT AGE TO,BE
FRONTS TO45 YEARS
SECRETARY OF WAR BAKER
GIVES O. K. TO PROPOSED
EXTENSION.
CONGRESS MAY ACT AT once
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO HAVE
100000 VICTORY ARMY BY
AUGUST.

age limits will be extended probably
to 18 and 45. Secretary of War Bak
er has been persuaded that this step
is necessary. He announced today
that he will approve any change in the
selective service act necessary to
raise an army of the required size.
Americans and Allied military lead
ers now are convinced that the United
States must place an army of at
least 100000 men in the field, if
victory is to be won. This will be
possible with the proposed extension
of the age limits.
Secretary Baker was won over to
the plan at conference with Provost
Marshal General Crcwdec. The sec
retary's approval removes the last OBJ
stacle in the path of the army general
staff's move to bring the proposal be-
fore Congress at an early date. It is
possible the question will not come up
until late in the fall.
The approval of Secretary Baker is
taken to indicate similar attitude by
President Wilson. The War depart
ment therefore, is convinced that Con-
gress will enact the necessary legis-
lation without lengthy debate.
General Crowder has favored an ex-
tension of the draft age for several
months. No official action looking to
a revision in the law was taken, how
ever, because Secretary Baker former
ly opposed the proposed extension.
When General Crowder is called up
on for an official opinion, he will
recommend that the new limits Be
from Is to 45, it is understood. The
draft machine has been made ready
to take care of the additional task.
Available fighting men under the
present age limits are expected to be
exhausted about January l. General
Crowder is anxious to avoid inroads on
skilled industrial and skilled farm lab
or and married men.
Including June calls approximately
100000 draft men have been called
to the colors. The July calls will
bring this number up to nearly 2,000,-
600. General Crowder has told the
Senate military affairs committee,
that the July calls would aggregate
100000. gi
With the 100000 draft under
arms by the end Of July and the
100000 in the regular army and the
National Guard, the strength of the
American army by August / will be
100000 men. Another 1000, 900 men
can be furnished by the draft system
without necessitating the invasion of
the deferred classes. Thus, an army
larger than 100000 is impossible
without extending the age limits of
the draft or invading the deferred
classes.
A registration of 1O,6S3,249 between
the ages Of 81 and 45, both inclusive,
is the estimate of General Crowder
From Is to 20, both inclusive, he
would expect to enroll $685., ,063.
Ninety-six per cent of the men be-
tween 18 and 20 are not married, it is
estimated, while ~ per cent of the
men between 81 and AS are believed
to be married.
The number of single males between
81 and 45 therefore is expected to be
$685. ,472, and between 18 and 20 there
should be 2,963,581.
Figuring on basis of percentage of
acceptances in the the first registra-
tion General Crowder would count on
registration of men between 81 and
45 producing 1898 fighting men.
The 18 to 20 registration should pro-
duce 1,167,947 fighting men.
The total number of fighting men
expected therefore, under the propos-
ed age limits would be 2,557,285. With
the present available total of 1000, 900
the extension of tn edraft ages to 18
and 45 would allow for an enlarge
ment 0 fthe army to more than $780,
600 without disturbing the industrial
agricultural or domestic conditions of
the country.
National Mazda Lamps means SER
u l. TN = y f -