The Washington herald., 1918-04-18

Changes Draft Bill.
The House Military Affairs Com
mittee. anticipating the increased de-
mand for man-power favorably re-
ported the bill which would include
in the draft all men who have be-
come of age since June 5, 1917. Pres
ident Wilson is authorized by this
measure. which already has passed
the senate. to call men who become
Il years of age at any time during
the war without further legislation.
The enactment OF the bill is eN-
pected within the next fw days. The
military authorities estimate 1t will
make available approximately 1.CO0CG0
men a year. the majority of whom
will be in class l.
THE American soldier has made
good in France Mr.. Baker told
the correspondents who greeted him
at the War Department. The added
statement wss confined to generali-
ties. No official report of the Sec
retary's observations while abroad
will be given to the public until he
has appeared before the Military AZ
fairs Committee of the House.
Date for Hearing.
Chairman Dent. of the committee.
az a conference with Mr.. Baker at
the War Department today, will de-
eide upon a date for this hearing.
Both the Secretary and the MEM
bers of the committee are anxious
to get the legislative machinery
moving before the close of the pres
ent week If possible. Mr.. Baker
has also agreed to discuss his trip
In several liberty loan speeches, the
first Of which is scheduled for Sat-
urday night. To avoid the neces-
sity Of cancelling the first speaking
date 1t is thought the hearing may
take place on Friday.
The officials who were asked to
the White House by President Will
son to hear the Secretary of War
recount his experiences, included
Bernard NJ. Baruch. head of the War
Industries Board; Chairman Hurley,
of the Shipping Board: Secretary
Daniels. of the Navy Department:
Herbert c. Hoover. Food Admins
traitor: DIR. Harry A. Garfield. Fuel
Administrator; John Skelton Will
Jams. representing William G.. Nc
Adoo. Director of Railroads.
Conferees Mute.
Official comment was not obtain
able at the conclusion of the con-
ference but il was said the Secre-
tary of War had described the con-
dition of the American soldiers in
France as being SO good it would
be impossible to even disguise them
in British or French uniforms. This
was not intended as a dispa ra ging
II
soldiers of the entente are exhaust
ed and war-weary while the Ameri-
cans are fresh and itching to get
into the fight.
Mr. Baker is also understood to
have been greatly impressed by the
tenacious purpose of both civil and
military authorities in France and
England to fight on until victory is
achieved.
The brief comment was interpreted
to show that in the face Of great
adversit the British officials are con-
fident their soldiers will make a su-
per effort to hold the Germans in
check until formidable American
forces can be placed on the battle
fields.
A stenographic report Jt the COM
ment authorized by Secretary Baker
in his talk with the correspondents
is. in part. as follows:
The enthusiastic expression of all
those who have been on the battle
line is that they want more.'
THE American soldier has made
good in France, and the French and
British military authorities and critics
uniformly praise the courage, endur-
rnce and Soldlerly qualities of the
Americans. z
The only sad Americans in France
are those who for any reason fear
they may have TO come home before
the job is done, officers and men
alike. They. of course. want to come
home when the job is done. but sug-
gest to anyone that he might be sent
home because he Possesses some in
formation that might be useful, and
&c almost breaks his heart