The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-07
CHANGE DRAFT lGE.
BAKERS SUGGESTIONS ARE NOW
READY TO BE SENT TO
CONGRESS.
Secretary Declines to Say What Ages
He VIII Submit as Proper Basis for
Getting, More Men in Service
Woald Raise and Lower Present
Limit.


Washington, Aug. War depart
ment recommendation for enlargins
the army and for the extension OF the
draft age limitations in order to pro
vide new reservoirs OF n1an-power te
back up the forces already al The
front viii be laid before congress next
week. Members of the two military
committees have been called to Wash
-ington by the chairnen in order to
expedite the bill.
In announcing, after conference
with Chairman Dent, of the house
committee, that his increased army
project was virtually ready Secre-
tary Baker would not say what age
figure had been settled upon nor indi-
cate in any way the size of the army
which he is planning.
.I 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.
I had a conference with Mr.. Dent this
morning and went over with him the
full plan, involving the suggested
i ''~~--
Senator Chamberlain as soon as he
gets back.
eAny suggestion to extend the draft
ages is to produce in Class one an
adequate number of men for tn en-
iarged military program. If the ages
are revised~they will have to be eth
er below 21 or above 81 or both. l
fh;rL n will bo hoth -
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.
:s.My personal preference is to go
mp first" he added.
"The only specific information re-
garding the new age limits to be
drawn from Mr.. Baker was state
naent that the limits of 19 to 40 had
been among suggestions canvassed,
but rejected. In many quarters it is
believed extension 70 the ages of 1e
and So will be recommended.
There are several features Of the
draft age discussion which stand out
clearly. In presenting the original Sc
iective service bill, Secretary Baker
and his advisers fixed 10 as the prop
er minimum, and Mr.. Baker has said
repeatedly since then that he has
seen no reason to change his opin-
len in that regard. Congress ruled
against taking men below the voting
age of 21, however, and sought to
make up the deficit by increasing the
war departments suggested maximum
from rs to 81 where it now stands.
:. The reluctance of many members
OF congress to go lower than the 21
limit is still apparent, although there
is evidence Of strong sentiment to-
ward carrying the maximum up as
There IS doubt bow
eHeEs hat war department officials
would prefer to draw on the classes
5af IS and 20 years old youths to fill
the ranks and see no decided military
advantage to be gained from any con-
siderable extension upward.
Secretary Baker has heretofore an
nounced that his policy in recon-
mending any change in draft ages
would be to seek a sufficient number
of men to meet the arn1y's needs in
such ages as would least disturb the
economic situation at once. The bulk
of the new forces, in his view, should
be drawn from the youngest class OF
men physically able to stand the strain
of modern warfare.
From the purely army standpoint.
this has been a boys war from the
start The quick recuperative powers
of youth have been vitally necessary
to the military machine under the
conditions of modern warfare. Older
men are slower to recover and are
therefore of more limited use to the
army.
On the other hand, however, there
are a great number Of men who could
be called out of the higher ages, even
I'D to As. A far greater proportion
Of the men between 81 and As have
irdependent incomes than is true with
the men below 81, reducing depend
erts as a facter for exemption to thai
extent
AS to size of army for which this
increased Glass / is necessary, no OH
cial has dropped a hint. with the eX-
ception Of General March, who, in an
noancing the creation of July scheG-
ule of six new divisions followed b.
an August schedule for the same num-
Der, has indicated the embarkatlor
upon such a monthly program. AT thl:
rate approximately 250,900 men
month will be sent overseas, then
places in the home environments t
be taken by 100000 new men. Unde
such a schedule. with provision al
ready existing for the housing ans
training Of 1,750,G00 men in the Unit
ed States, a full six months Of train
ing on this side, both in divisional am
replacement camps, before men wer
sent over to complete their course
behind the lines would be possible.
1t is not certain that the depart
ment is aiming at the creation OF
force of any definite size. There al
ready are upward Of 10000 Amerl
can troops either overseas or G!
route. Secretary Baker said today tn
shipment rate of the early part
July had been maintained through
Il, n