The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-08-19

be called early next spring In order
TO get their training In time TO get
TO France"
The eighty divisions plan, Cen
eral March said, depended upon
shipping facilities, but he added:
Il might as we'll say right here
frankly, that the program Of Mr..
Schwab will take care OF the army
program and gain on it,"
WASHINGTON, Aug. l9-No gem
eral exemption OF married men simply
because OF their married status is con-
templated by the war department in
preparing for the proposed extension
OF draft ages, Secretary Baker declired
today before the house military COM
mlttec
Mr. Baker said his previous reHsdrks
on this subject had been misconstrued
and that married men who do not sup
port their iamilNs and are not engaged
in useful occupations will continue to
be called.
| Al Least Work or Fight.
There are many married men in ths
country who ought to go and fight az
freely az single men" he added. -.
The war secretary. with General
March aud Provost Marshal General
Crowder. appeared before the house
committee at the opening hearings TO
! reiterate their explanation given that
immediate enactment OF the man-power
bill is imperative in order TO carry out
the enlarged war program
Debate Begins Thursday.
Consideration OF the man power biz
extending the draft ages will begin in
the senate next Thursday With a
quorum present today the senate SET
aside the agreement for vacation re-
cesseS until August "a and cleared the
way for taking up the draft measure
without further delay
Separate Class for Youths.
Leaving an explanation OF the man
power situation 10 General Crowder. the
secretary announced that because of OBJ
jections TO calling boys OF eighteen
years old he had planned to defer their
call as long as possible and would not
object to placing a provision in the bill
making separate class OF men between
eighteen and nineteen years old and for
deferring calling them as far as prae.
ticable" until after others in Class J.
had been exhausted
There is a sentiment in this commit
tee" said Mr. Baker, IL don't know how
large-against calling men as young as
eighteen unless il is absolutely neces-
sary. | think the sentiment OF the
country is to get all the men necessary.
But from the beginning have planned
as a matter OF regulation TO have men
from eighteen to nineteen put in
separate class with a view to deferring
their call until il is necessary
Six Months Maximum Training.
As to how long before men called
under the new law will go across, Mr..
Baker said not more than six months
training would be given at home.
Wont Stop College.
In extending the draft ages. Secrets-
~ Baker said, suspension Of academic
education is an "unsolved problem" OF
the situation and that it would be most
unfortunate to have all collegiate edu-
cation stopped He believed there still
would be many youths left at school,
but was against exemption Of oollege
students as a class as thoroughly un-
democratic" Scientifically trained es<
perts, however, are needed and edura-
tion of such men must be continued to
an extent.
The departments plans, Mr., Baker
said. are TO call all the younger men
by the middle Of next year--but cubs
stantially after the school years 10
through.
General Crowder indicated that tlo
new program is expected to ram zs
800 600 men BY June 70. 1919. and That
il is proposed to call 100000 men BY
that time
General March read an official ststs-
ment showing that on August I, the
American army numbered 30i1ii2 mex
divided as follows;
American expeditionary foress
and enroute oversees l,sof,742.
In the United States and fusulsf
possessions. f,%s2. .7O6.
Called In the August drsh, M
oo4,
In addition, thsrs are sbest n
900 marines ssrviag VII ~ ~ Il
psdifionafy forcss 1