The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-07-30
GAP IS FEARED
IN NATIONAL ARMY
Steady Flow of Men Into the
Ranks May Stop Some
time in November
GLASS ONE ALREADY
ABOUT EXHAUSTED
Some Action by Congress Is Urged at
Once to Meet the Emergency-Crowd-
er's Plans Arouse Comment in Of
fetal Circles.

er's Plans Arouse Comment in Of
fetal Circles.
WASHINGTON, July 30.-That
there is to be hiatus in the steady
flow of men in the National army begin
ming in November, at the latest, as re-
suit of the delay of the administration
in making up its mind regarding the
increase of the draft ages is beginning
to appear more and more a certainty.
Secretary Wadsworth of New York
pointed this ont to the senate when Sec
rotary Baker and General March asked
that consideration of the question be
postponed last June Since then. how
ever, 1000 eombatafit American troops,
have taken part in one of the greatest
battles of the war with losses that are
vet unknown. More calls have come
for special service troops and the reser-
voir which Senator Underwood and
other defenders of Mr.. Baker thought
was full enough shows unmistakable
signs of an approaching drought
Because of the Induction of many of
l liitii NteiSS iiItH III the SItIidl
es large number of districts are even
now at fhe end of Glass l.
| In a speech at Cleveland Representa-
tive Kahn, one of the ablest military
experts in the house. called attention
to the seriousneec of the situation.
itCongress,' said Mr.. Kahn, should
change the draft law Immediately af-
| ter the recess, so that several million
| men can be added at once TO Glass /.
| The situation as / interpret it brooks
no delay.
Secretary Baker has given no indiea-
| ton as yet that his man power plan
which he promised congress he would
| submit sometime in the fall, is any
| thing like ready, and that is what is
| causing alarm here. Even if his plan is
submitted by September the certainty
that the question viii stir up an ex-
/ tended debate and the fact that con-
gress will then be in the throes of the
revenue bin seem to preclude the pos
| sibilitv of enactment of new draft
! law before September Is, with the
1 chances that it would be some weeks
later.
To get the men of the new ages regis
tered, classified and ready for call to
camp Gen Crowder has estimated will
take from sixty to ninety days. That
would mean that the first of the new
drafted men would not begin to flow
in to the army before November or
even December Is.
1t now appears that the original
! Glass ] will be exhausted by next week.
But to this have been added the men
obtained through combining other
classes, estimated at about 100000.
There are also the 100000 registrants
of last June. These estimates stretched
to the utmost will not quite supply the
August, September and October calls
This is what brings into view the hiatus
in November and possibly in Decem.
Der unless the war department and con.
gress act quickly.
It was the prospect of just such a
, gap at most crucial time that is be-
lieved to have led Gen. Crowder to dis
agree fatty with Secretary Baker when
the matter came up last June. Gen
, Crowder was supported by Me opinion
of Chairman Chamberlain of the senate
military committee and by representa-.
tive Kahn, of the house committee. But
i Gen, Crowder was forced to bow to the
wishes of his civilian superior. ;
1 1t is announced that Gen. Crowder il
! about to go away for month or two
! No explanation of his leaving Washing
| ton at this time is forthcoming and in
) view of the situation presented the
matter is causing considerable com
ment