New-York tribune., 1918-07-25
Change in Draft
Age May Call Men
From 19 to IS
Secretary Of War to Urge
Expansion When Con-
9ress Reconvenes
(specia. Dsspa.eh to rAs rribune)

Especial Dfspdtch to The Trtbune)
WASHINGTON, July 24.-Draft ages
will be expanded only to meet the
military requirements Of the United
States. Secretary Of War Newton D.
Baker made clear to-day that his
recommendations to be made to Con-
gress when that body meets after It's
summer recess will take into consider
alton the labor situation. It is his
purpose to disturb industry as little
as possible.
Mr.. Bakers present attitude is taken
to mean that he will propose reducing
the minimum age to nineteen years and
increasing the maximum age to thirty
five years. This would add approx
mately 100000 men to the list Of
those liable for military service. OF
this 100000 about 100000 could be
drafted into the army as the selective
service law is being administered now.
While The disposition in Congress is
not to send boy into the trenches
until he is old enough to vote, Secre-
tary Baker shares the view Of army
officers that the age limit should be
dropped to nineteen. Given a years
training the boy will not be called upon
to fight until he is twenty. No doubt
an attempt will be made in Congress
to permit the calling Of young men
viding that they shall not be sent to
the trenches until that time.
Young Men the Best Fighters
Experience in Europe has disclosed
that men over thirty-five do not make
good fighters. They are not able to
stand the physical strain Of modern
warfare. Of course there are excep-
tions to the rule, but military men
make the best fighters. Mr.. Baker. it
is understood, will be guided by the
advice Of his military chiefs. They
want young men. Added to this Mr..
Baker realizes that the higher the
draft age is fixed the more industry
will be disturbed.
The regular army, the National
Guard, the National Army and those
now in Class l or to be put there by
the "work or fight" order total slightly
more than 100000, it is estimated
Add to this the 100000 that would be
provided by making the draft ages
and there would be 100000 men In
service.
Although President Wilson and Sec
retary Baker asked for an army with
out limit, it is understood that the
War Department programme now in
preparation has definite limits. The
popular figure guessed at is an army
Of 100000. Observers familiar with
the situation believe our goal is three
field armies, or about 3,250,000 soldiers,
for the front lines and sufficient men
in reserve in France and in training at
home to keep such force at maximum
nitude would require close to 100000
men in arms.
New Army Divisions Ordered
At present the United States has
enough men organized in divisions for
more than two field armies. There are
eight regular army divisions, seventeen
National Guard divisions, sixteen Ma
tional Army divisions and one National
Army division (negro).
General Peyton c. March, chief Of
staff. announced to-day he has ordered
six new regular army divisions formed,
bringing the grand total to forty-eight.
There are $4,000 combatant and $4,000
non-combatant, or total of $4,000,
troops in division. Six divisions make
a corps. 1t is presumed there will be
three corps in field army, which will
number slightly more than 100000
men. Auxiliary units which are used
only as corps and field army troops
make up the difference in numbers.
No announcement has been made, but
it is presumed the policy Of the depart
ment will be to order new divisions or
ganized as soon as the remaining Ma
tional Army divisions still in training
here are moved overseas. At least six
more divisions will be needed to make
the number required for three field
armies. This will make twenty regular
army divisions, leaving Ave more to be
formed before the numbers assigned to
the regulars are exhausted.