Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-13
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp.

Ninety thousand American troops
landed in France in the first ten days
Of May; a million men to be on tine
other side In year from the time the
first were sent across the Atlantic; a
grand total of 2,03S,222 in active serv-
Ice or in training, to be increased to
100000 or 100000 before the end
of the next fiscal year. Such is the
proud record Of the war department
and its plans for the near future as
stated to the house of representatives
by Mr.. Caldwell of the military affairs
committee. The committee unanimous
ly approved the $11 900 600 900 army
appropriation bill and 1t was reported
to the house.
Mr.. Caldwell added: 1.-THE potential
man power of America, for seven
year war, may he conservatively esti-
mated at 20,0OO,OOO fighting men of
recognized military age-this out of a
population of 125,000000."
Continually harassed nv the artil-
ing record with that of Great Britain,
he said: ave began with less went
further, and arrived with more in
shorter time"
The army bill was so amended that
President Wilson is given unlimited
power to call drafted men to the col
Ors.
Ia
AS n step toward realizing the gov
ernment's expectations in the matter
Of man power, Provost Marshal Gen.
eral Crowder on Thursday issued
drastic amendment to the selective
service regulations, which will COM
pei every man of draft age to either
fight or work after July 1. Idlers and
all engaged in nOn-useful occupations
will be called In by draft boards and
given their choice of joining the col
Ors or finding some useful occupation.
Among those affected by the order are
gamblers and race track attendants,
baseball players and other professional
sportsmen, walters and bartenders,
theater ushers, passenger elevator op-
orators and other attendants of clubs
and hotels, domestics and clerks In
stores.
In applying the rule deferred classi-
flcation on account Of dependents will
be utterly disregarded, and local boards
may take action whether they have
original jurisdiction of the registrant
or not.
1t is believed in Washington that the
sight or work" plan will go a long
way In solving the problem of getting
sufficient labor for the farms, the ship
yards and the munitions plants. Un-
til the results OF its operation are
seen there will be no more talk of the
cOnscription Of labor.
Attorney General Gregory followed
up General Crowder's order with the
statement that all who leave the coun-
try TO escape the draft will be prose
cuted on their return.
IA
That there will be enough ships to
meet the requirements of the situa-
tion seems assured. for the shlpyards
are turning them out In steadily in
creasing numbers. At Rutgers college
last week Secretary Daniels said that
before another summer we shall have
enough ships to carry millions of troops
20 France, and enough destroyers to
see them there In safety. '"The em.
peror of Germany" he added, "knOws
that when the United States builds
enough ships his end has come, and
we are going to build enough ships.
President Wilson has consented to
restore 10 the original number the
fleet of steamers employed to carry
food 10 the ten million starving in
habitants Of German-occupied Belgium