The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-02
THE next DRAFT.
EXPANSION or ,x,UDrc~,
FORCES DEPENDS UPON
EVENTS ABROAD.
biiIs Approved for Reyisterinp-
Crowdcr Proposes New Drawing to
Fix Order Of Liability of Those 2f
Since Last June.

Washington, Jan. 29.-Expansion of
Americas fighting forces beyond their
present strength depends upon such
FACTORS as events abroad and the ship
ping situation. Secretary Baker said
tonight in disclosing that the war
department has not fixed a date for
another draft. nor even determined
how many men shall be called.
When Mr.. Baker told the senate
military committee that the United
States would have half a million men
in France early this year. and that in
all a million and a half could go
across if ships coud be found to car.
ry them, he referred to the divisions
now in training camps and those al
ready in Europe. Future develop
ments will decide what additional
forces will be sent.
The secretary made clear today his
opinion that. if events made it neces-
sary to call more than another in
crement Of half million men, the en-
ecutives authority to draft men for
fighting units other than reserves
would be exhausted and further leg
islation by congress would be neces-
sary. He said, however, that under
n hnr ~ IN fxrvD ;x,r a.
of line soldiers Of 100000 each, and
such additional numbers for recruit
battaliOns and special units "as the
president may deem necessary" the
second draft might bring out i'm all as
many as million men.
The senate committee today tenta-
lively approved legislation proposed
by the war department to provide for
the registration of Youths attaining
the age Of twenty-one years on June
B, authorizing the fixing of quotas on
the basis of class / of the new classi-
fication and empowering the presi-
J dent to call men needed for special
industrial or other work.
Provost Marshal Gen. Crowder ap-
pearing to explain the bills told the
committee it was proposed to hold a
new drawing to establish the order of
!, liability of the new registrants. When
) the new men have been given their
serial numbers their names will be in
serted in the classes to which they
may be assigned according to a plan
being worked out
1t is assumed, Gen. Crowder said.
that most of the new registrants will
fall into class l, giving that class
this year a total Of some two million
men. From class 1 it is proposed to
take the next and any future drafts.
In formal memorandum present
ing his views, the general also disap-
proved suggestions that the registra-
ton be extended to men beyond the
age Of thirty-one, saying the effort of
classification is great and so expen-
sive. and the number Of persons past
thirty-one years who would fall i'm
class l SO small. that the task would
not be worth while
Although Secretary Baker today re-
iterated his desire to have exempted
registered men who reach the age of
thirty-One years without being called
into the military service, the Commit
tee refused to include such q provision
in the legislation. Gen. Crowder dis
approved the suggestion.
The bills probably will be intro
duced in the senate tomorrow and
Senator Chamberlain said they would
be pressed for early passage.
From Chairman Coffin, of the air.
craft board. the committee today OBJ
tanned behind closed doors what sew
eral members termed most encour-
aging reports of the aviation pro-
gram.
Although much of Mr. Coffin's tes-
timony was confidential, consider
able portion will be made public,
probably next Thursday, when he will
be cross examined in open session.
Further inquiry into the aviation
service will be made tomorrow, when
Brig. Gen. Squier, chief of the army
service. and Col. Deeds will appear,
probably in executive session.
The committee had hoped to recall
Secretary Baker before the end Of the
week for cross examination on his
statement yesterday Of army achieve
ments, but tonight Chairman Cham
berlain thought the aviation branch
would consume the next few days
and postpone Secretary Bakers re-
turn until next week.
Discussion of the controversy ovor