New-York tribune., 1918-08-16
u S. to Send Army of 4,00Q, 900
To France, Says General March

electives obtainabe by the enlarge
of three studies covering age groups
32-40. combined with 1920, 32-45 com
bined with 1920. and SPAS combined
with 1920, and showing the estimated
electives for each combination.
These figures were made by a care
ful calculation in this office, checking
the calculations at various points with
experience in the several items repre-
sented, the basis figures, viz, the total
males of the respective age groups
were asccrtained by comparison of re-
liable insurance actuarial figures with
census tables projected to date.
Reservoirs Overestimated
This explanation is made because
the totals shown are considerably be-
low what might have been supposed to
be the ample size of the reservoir in
the higher ages. The combination
ages. thirty-two. forty and nineteen
twenty (sec study No. y. designated
IN your memorandum would yield only
a little over ii million and a half men
Cor half million less than the total
amount called for by the programme
Tor the nine months, October, 1918
June, 1919.
"By including age forty-five at the
top the second combination (see study
NO. y would yield only million and
tihree-quarters electives. By taking
the extreme step and adding age
eighteen at the bottom and including
age forty-fve at the top (see study
NO. - something over two million and
one quarter effectivcs would be OBJ
tanned.
"1his seems to indicate that the bill
as drafted should at least provide au-
thority TO call into service the extreme
age of fcrty-five at the top and
eighteen at the bottom, and it is ac-
cordingly recommended that the draft
of bill be prepared with those ages
as the limits.
Furthermore, the authority to draw
upon this new reservoir must be OBJ
tanned Immediately. The estimated
number of Glass 1 men under the pres
cnt ages and including the class of
1918. age. twenty-one, that has been
lamation) will be only about 100000
men (and may fall below that fgure)
on September /, 1918, after filling the
calls indicated for July and August,
and making deductions for the uneX
pected heavy losses due to rush in
June and July to the navy, Marine
Corps and Emergency Fleet.
September Call Puzzling
"September call. The first question
which presents itself is the very urgent
one, How to meet the September call
for 100000 men with considerably less
than that number in Glass l to be
drawn upon?
There is only one way I can see for
accomplishing this and that is to pro-
vide for weekly registration of men
becoming twenty-one since last regis
tration day, June 5, 1918. We could
hold such registration, after proper
proclamation by the President and
upon bulletin order to boards desig-
mating Monday of each week as regis
tration day, and requiring. the neces-
headquarters of local boards on that
day to effect the registration.
"The first registration day would be
a heavy one requiring, perhaps, special
personnel, but the subsequent weekly
registration days should be handled
with greater ease. In this way we
could hope to get, under rush pro-
able for the September call, which,
added to those remaining in Class l.
would give a total barely sufficient to
fill that call.
Must Exclude British
eve must exclude, Of course, from
consideration in filling the September
quota registrants who become liable to
our draft under the British and Ca
madam treaty, as it is not practicable
to have registration of these men
until August 20, thirty days after the
ratification of the treaty; and it is not
until thirty days thereafter that their
right to elect to service viii the Brit
ish and Canadian contingents ceases.
"Subsequent calls: The second and
more difficult question is. How can
we supply on time the 100000 men re-
quircd for each of the succeeding
months of October, November and De-
cember? The British Canadian treaty
would help out to the cxtcnt-it is es-
timated-of about $4,000 men, which is
rot even the conventional drop in the
bucket
"The House reconvenes on August
19 and the Senate on August 26. How
long a period will be consumed in the
discussion and enactment of legisla-
tion au .horizing the extension of the
draft ages and in what form such leg
islation will be enacted it is difficult to
anticipate.
Delay in Classification.
"And yet we must anticipate it if we
; are to establish as expeditions pro-
cedure under it which will produce on
time the quotas for the months above
stated. If we could assume that the
law would be enacted in the remaining
days of August we would have basis
CT calculating the results to be obtained
under it. AS l stated to the Senate
Military Committee at its last hearing,
minimum period Of ninety days is
: necessary to enroll and classify all the
men registered in the additional classes
I suggested We cannot, therefore, wait
for the completion Of Glass l. but must
take men irrespective Of their order
numbers as fast as they find their way
into Class /.
l 81 suggest for discussion with the
military committees Of the two houses
, the tentative form of bill hereto at
tached, to the end that we may obtain
= assurance that the bill will pass in such
4 form as will permit me to proceed
, now with the printing of the large
numbers of forms, including the qucs-
tonnaire, necessary in connection with
, the additional registration.
r "The printing Office contemplates 6
' period Of thirty days for the printing
Of the forms, 80 it is necessary to
move with great promptness. OF
course, the distribution of the forms
can 20 on during the period Of print
ina with the assurance that thew will