Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-06-27
MILLIONS TO
BE SUMMONED
into SERVICE.
Officials Oppose Draft Change
Until Plans Are Completed;
$4,000 More to Be
Called This Year.
By Associated Press.

BY Associated FfeSS.
Washington, June 26.-Sec-
retary Baker disclosed to the
senate military committee to-
day that within three months
an enlarged army project, now
being worked out, will be pre-
sented to congress to represent
the maximum fighting effort of
the country.
Already the calculations up
on which the pending army bill
was framed have been exceed
ed and the War department is
now revising its plans on an en-
larged basis that means addl-
tional billions in money and ad-
ditional millions of fighting
men.
The full scope Of the new measure
is not yet apparent even 10 oHlcials
who are preparing it.
Mr.. Baker disclosed the new plans
in explaining his reasons for oppos-
ing any change in the draft age limits.
Later, during general debate in the
senate chamber, figures were disclosed
showing the great strides being made
toward bringing American fighting
power to the front in France.
Five Months Ahead of Schedule
General March. chief of staff, al
ready has announced that the army IS
FIVE months ahead of schedule in troop
movements. 100000 men having been
shipped abroad. During the debate TO-.
day, however, it Was disclosed that ~ II
the highest hopes arc realized l,4oo,oVo
men will l,a% Reached France some
me IN Angus $Snd that there will be
4 total force alder arms of apprexi--
matefy 3,5OO,0o0. A statement read
into the senate records by Senator
Chamberlain. chairman of the mill
tary committee, predicted that class l
probably would be exhausted during
October, and would be reduced to
64l.126 men by calls to be made be-
lore August !. :,
Secretary Baker and General March
were positive that the reservoir OF
fighting man power would meet all
calls upon it under the best possible
conditions" Of mobilization and trans
portation until congress has an oppor-
tunity to take up age extension later,
with the data now being compiled by
the War department.
= Shipping Vital Factor.
nf 10 chinnjn
to haul the men to France is the vital
factor. At present much British and
French tonnage is employed on the
work, as unusually good crops in Eng
land have already>made ships avail
able weeks longer than was expected.
The table shows total strength in
class OF 2.362,082, deductions of 354,-
654 for delinquents, 36,70 for the
emergency fleet list, 2l5,S39 for lim-
tied service classification and 50,26e
for remedial detectives, leaving l,724,-
S7l fighting men of those originally
placed in class ]. To that number it is
= estimated 100000 will be added by the
reclassihcation process now going or
and 100000 from thee class of 1913 tc
be drawn tomorrow.
With the July call deducted the
table fixed 877,359 as the number Of
availables left i'll the fighting ranks o1
class and the estimated calls for the
rest of the year are placed at tota
of $4,000, which would leave 2,OO(
men still in the class on January !
1919. The calls for 1919 are given as
August, 100000; September, 100000
/ October, 10000; November, 10000
and December, l25,000.
Sufficient Men Available.
1t was pointed out during the sen
ate debate that these figures. prepared
by General Crowder, seemed to SHOW
a sufficient number of men to fill an,
calls now planned and that apparently
an estimate of 10000 additional mel
to be obtained by the draft treatie
with France and Great Britain wa
not included, nor the 10000 cases OF
appeal, of which it was said 95 pc
cent would go into class |. 1t wa
noted, also, that 2l5,000 men, avail
able for limited military service hat
been deducted from the total Of clas
/. although it is understood men o
this classification are included in tn
calls.
Many senators were puzzled by TIL
figures. 1t appears possible. however
and Secretary Baker and other Wa
department officials are known t
share this view, that in fact if tn
present schedule of mobilization
carried out, there will remain in clas
under the present age limits severa
hundred thousand men, instead c
1000, on January l. Probably this fac
prompted the recommendation tina
The age limit be not disturbed for tn
present.
Crons Rad in Ravaria