The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-16
CAN WIN War
WITH 100000
Army Chief Explains Plan to
Send 100000 More to
France by Next June.
IS TO 45 MEASURE DELAYED
senators Slow in Returning to WASH
ington and Consideration of Bill
Is Postponed Until
Thursday.

washington, Aug. 16.-Plans for be-
ginning consideration in the senate
next Monday of the new man power
Dill extending the draft ages were
blocked by the failure of a quorum to
appear when Chairman Chamberlain
submitted the report of the senate mil
1tary committee
In reporting the bill Chairman
chamberlain disclosed to the SENATE
that General March had told the mill
tary committee 1t was up to the United
States to put enough men in France to
win on the west front, and he ex-
pressed the belief that 100000 Amer
leans under one commander could 90
through the German lines wherever
they pleased.
The report also revealed that the
new American war program calls for
~ divisions, or something more than
3,OOO,OOO men. in France by June 80
next, with 18 more divisions in train
ing at home at that time All the men
called for active service under the pro-
posed new draft ages, eighteen to for
ty-five, General March told the commit
tee, would be in France by next June,
according to the program.
Must Win on Western Front.
Secretary Baker informed the COM
mittee. the report said, that the prasi-
dents policy called for concentration
Of American forces on the western
front. including italy, and that "the
theory of the fighting in the future is
that we must force the issue and win
on the western 'front.'
Immediate extension Of the draft
ages was declared by the army repre-
sentatives to be imperative in order
that the United States may throw it's
full strength into the struggle and win.
If the draft ages are fixed at from
eighteen to forty-five, General March
said, the system Of volunteer enlist
ment in the United States army auto
matically disappears.
The draft program and plans of the
war department are of such charac-
ter that the rapid movement of troops
to France is continuing, Secretary Ba-
ker said, and by reason of the very
great assistance given by the British
government in placing so much ship
ping at the disposal Of the American
government the department hopes to
continue the accelerated movement
overseas.
100000 Men in Army.
There now are approximately 2,6OO,-
600 American soldiers in this country
and overseas, Mr.. Baker added. The
reservoir in the United States is such
that even with the exhausting for a
time of the eligibles in class l the
movement of men overseas would not
be interrupted.
Fourteen National army divisions al
ready are In France, the secretary said,
and these have been included in the
new field army organization recently
announced by General Pershing. There
also are II National Guard divisions,
including the Rainbow organization,
overseas, together with five regular
army divisions.
sThe policy of the war department
is to put the maximum number of men
in France with the idea of shortening
the war"
Senators Slow In Returning.
Senate leaders had telegraphed
members TO return from vacations so
that the agreement for three-day re-
cesses until August "a might be set
aside and thus clear parliamentary OBJ
stacles to taking up the bill immedi-
atelv upon converting Monday.
The senate adjourned until Mon
day. and the plan now is to begin con-
s,deration Of the bill next Thursday, If
possible.