Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-28
WILSON TO BACK
UNIVERSAL ARMY
TRAINING FOR US.
Presidents New kttitude
Believed to Explain Stand
on Draft Age
BILL IS in PREPARATION
Will Be Presented to Congress
as Administration Measure
1 Next September
Washington, June 2S.

The reason back of the War Depart
fient's announced opposition for the
present to changes in the draft age limits
the support of plans for the establish
tnent of universal military training in
the United States
This has become known in the Senate,
although no mention of the Presidents
change of base was made upon the floor
hs debate over the Fall amendment to
the army appropriation bill changing the
age limits from twenty-one to thirty-one
to from eighteen to forty-five continued
The War Department months ago con-
quoted an investigation OF vital statis-
TICS regarding the man-power of the
United States with a view to formula
tion of draft legislation and to the pos
bible incorporation in such legislation
pr provision for the establishment of a
system of universal military training.
The results of its deliberations and
the conclusions of the group of experts
who worked on this important assign
ment have never been brought to light.
senatorial seekers after the report of
the investigators have failed repeatedly
70 obtain satisfaction of the War De-
partment. .. .--..
Considers Postwar Period
Very recently President Wilson came
10 tile opinion that in the framing of
new legislation dealing with the selectiye
draft law II would be necessary to pre-.
pare measure which would take into
consideration not only the present war
exigency but the postwar period Of in
ternational readjustment.
Although heretofore consistent IL not
publicly announced opponent of uni
versal service, the President has let IL
be known, to close friends that in his
opinion something must be done to pro-
vide for regular and established fixed
annual increment of soldiers for the
army of the. United States. at least for
the period in which the world distraught
and In turmoil after the war shall be
readjusting itself to meet the stupen-
dous alteration, which political maps
and boundary lines have undergone.
The President has realized that war
measures will repeal themselves with
the ending of hostilities and the pro-
mitigation of peace, and yet nominal
peace may not be free from the menace
of possibly Presumed strife to preserve
world law and world order, and that the
nation once out of the war will have
duties to perform which will require al
least trained force ready for trans.
mutation into fighting force fer years
to come.
This change of position the President
related to close friends several weeks
ago. He has not taken the Senate into
his confidence nor are the men who he
has made acquainted with this desire
members of either house of Congress.
The President will not send for the
congressional leaders before the pres.
entation Of the War Departments new
plan for readjusting age limits under
the draft law, but when the plar
emerges from the hands Of the experts
now engaged in framing It 1t will bt
sent to Congress as a concrete plan out
of which necessary legislation to put Il
into effect may be drafted into law
The framework of the proposed new
law Is only partly complete now. The
details have not been disclosed nor ar,
they likely to be until that time in Sep
tember when, according to the promise.
made by Secretary Of War Baker t.
the Senate Committee on Military At
fairs, the views of the Administration
as to draft limit ages will be set befor,
Congress
Wants II to BE His Own
The President desires that the pro
posed universal military training pla,
shall be his own. When 1t is finishe,
and ready for presentation in Congress
II will be. II his wishes are followed, al
administration measure for which tn
Administration and not any legislator
previously active in the cause of uni
versal military training will figure
Both Senator Chamberlain and New
when they learned of the reporte
change of the Administrations attitude
declared their willingness the afternoo
to step aside, waive all pride of author
ship" and give their entire support I
any measure that the administratio
may propose in the way of universe
service. ~
The Administration Is expected to Pre-
pose that,the training Of young men be
gin at the age of eighteen or ninetee
years These men would be prepared
take the field for service on the battl
front the moment they reach the age {