New Britain herald., 1918-06-26
MARCH AND BAKER
 OPPOSE AGE CHANGE
Sufficient Men Available and Sub-
 jeCt to Call for Present THEIR STAND ENDORSED
Authorities Favor Rcduc- tion, If Any Amendment Is Adopt cd - New Comprehensive Army Program Promised ill Early Fall.

Washington, June 25.-Secretary Baker and Gen. March, chief of staff, informed the senate military com mittee today that they opposed as premature and unnecessary the pro- posed extension of the army draft age limits.
 Provost Marshal General Crowder, whose approval of the extension has been cited by advocates of the change in the senate, also appeared before the committee to say that, while he was not insistent on imm ediate ac- tion. he thought action should be taken in time to secure new regis trants under the revised age limits early next year.
 The army officials attended a meet ing of the committee just before the senate convened to continue consid- eration of the army appropriation bill, with amendments pending to change the age limits. Gen. March and MT. Baker said sufficient men are available and subject to call from the S00,000 new registrants of the 1918 class for the army's require ments during the next few months. General opinion of the army gen. eral staff accords with this view, Gen. March said.
 Favor Reduction, If Any Change.
 M ost of the senators who heard the statements believed congress would follow the recommendation. If con- gress insists on immediate action, Secretary Baker, Gen. March and Gen. CroWder were said to be agreed, the minimum age limit of 21 be lowered to secure younger men for military service rather than make an extensive raise in the maximum age limit by which older men would be secured. The told the committee that more and better fighting men would be secured by reduction of the age limit-they suggested it be made 20 years instead of the present minimum of 21.
 The latest statistics and estimates regarding the number of men still available under the present draft law and the new British Canadian treaty were presented confidential1y to. the committee, together with the war de- partment's plans for further draft calls.
 Secretary Baker it is said, expressed merely his personal views and those of his military advisers and did not suggest the opinion of President Will son on the question although it had been reported that the president also opposes immediate legislation.
 In asking that the draft legislation go over for the present, Secretary Baker and General March said that within 60 or 90 days, probably about the middle of August after the pro- posed recess of congress, the admin StT9fiOn hensive army program, covering not only the number of men it is proposed to raise but also dealing with shipping and other problems.
 Secretary Baker said an "enlarged" program for the army is planned in a formal statement made after he had been closeted within the committee for nearly three hours with his aides
 T presented to the committee state ments' said MT. Baker, 'that for the present there are enough men in Class l sufficient for our prospective needs and when the enlarged program of the United States is ready for pre- 'sentation to congress we will at the same time have complete data on which to base any recommendation for change in the age limits of the draft"
 Committee Will Oppose Change.
 After Secretary Baker and Gen. March, chief of staff, had opposed re- vision of draft age limits and an- nounced that within so or 90 days the war depa rtment would submit to con- gress new and enlarged army pro- gram, the senate military committee decided to oppose any legislation to change the draft age.