Arizona republican., 1918-08-02
ARMY AND EXTENSION
 OF DRAF I ACE
War Departments Plans
 Ready for Congress- Next Week. Secretary Baker
 Reticent as to Age Limits
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, Aug. War de- partment recommendations for enlarg- ing the army and for the extension of draft age limitations to provide greater man power will be laid before congress next week. Members of the two mili- tary committees have been recalled to Washington by the chairman to eX- pedite the bill.
 In announcing, following a confer ence with Chairman Dent of the house committee, that his increased army project was virtually ready, Secretary Baker would not say what age limits had been settled upon, nor indicate in any way the size of the army which he is planning.
 q do not want to say what the ages will be- he said, because the con- current action of the two houses is necessary to secure assent to them.
 Below 21 or Above 31 or Both
 Any suggestion to extend the draft ages is to produce in class one an ade- quate number of men for the enlarged military program. If the ages are re- vised, they will have to be either be- low 21 or above 31, or both. I think it will be both.'
 ! Chairman Dent was even more re- ticent but said he was willing to go either up or down in extending age limits of the draft to win the war. l My personal preference is to go up first" he added.
 The only specific information re- garding the new age limits to be drawn from Mir Baker was a statement that the limits of 19 to 40 had been among the suggestions canvassed, but re- Jected. In many quarters it is believed extension to the ages Of 19 and 36 will be rejected
 Fix 19 as Minimum
 In presenting the original selective service bill, Secretary Baker and his advisers fixed 19 as the proper mini mum, and Mr. Baker has said repeat edly since then that he has seen no reason to change his opinion in that regard
 Congress, however, ruled against taking men below the voting age of 21
 The reluctance of many members of congress to go lower than the 21 limit is still apparent, though there is evi- dence of strong sentiment toward car fylnS the maximum up as high as 4o. There is no doubt, howevei that the war department official. would prefer to draw on the classe. of 19 and 20 years old youths. Sec retary Baker has heretofore an nounced that his policy in recommend ing any change in draft ages would b. to seek a sufficient number of men tC meet the army's needs in such ages a. would least disturb the economi, situation at home. The bull1k of tn, new forces, in his view, had beel drawn from the youngest class of mer physically fit.
 This Has Been Boys War From the purely army standpoint this has b cen a boys war from tn start The economic recuperative DOW CTS have been vitally necessary to tn military machine. Old men are slowe to recover and are therefore of nor limited use to the army.
 On the other hand, however. ther l are a great number of men who coul ) be called out of the higher ages, evel up to 45. A far greater proportion c , the men between 31 and 45 have inde
 pendent incomes than is true with me below 31, reducing the dependents fac t tor for exemption to that extent 7 Two Million Overseas by Fall
 It is not certain that the departmen ] is aiming at the creation of force ( = any definite size. There are now up n ward of 100000 American troop
 either overseas or en route. Secretar
 Baker said today the shipment rate (
 the early part of July had been main
 tained throughout the month !. Under the 25O.OOO month suggestio
 and without mishap to the supply lin
 October should see 100000 American
 overseas and the opening of the sprin [. campaign of 1919, when many officer l believe the final scenes of the Germa a defeat will begin in great combine g drive against the German lines. migl . easily see 100000 ready for actio r with another force of substantial
 2,000000 organized at home. Tn; |" would represent an army of 1000, ,0l : men for which, in a general way, Il Il war department may be aiming.