Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-15

berlin disclosed to the senate
that General March has told
the military committee II WAS
up TO the United States TO put
enough men in France 10 win
the war on the west front, and
had expressed the belief that
four million Americans under
one command could go through
the German lines whenever
they pleased.
The report also revealed that
the new American war program
calls for eighty divisions. or some.
thing over three million men, in
France by June 80, next year. with
eighteen more divisions in training
at home then.
All of the men called for active
service under the proposed new
draft ages-lS to 45-General
March told the committee. would
be in France by next June, accord
ing to the program.
Must Win on West Front
Secretary Baker informed the
committee, the report said, that th3
presidents policy called for con-
centration OF American forces on
the western front, including Italy.
and that the theory of the lighting
in the future is that we must force
the issue and win on the western
front"
Immediate extension Of the dra;r
ages was declared by the army
representatives to be imperative in
order that the United States may
throw its full strength in tho
struggle and win.
If the draft ages are fixed at
| from IS to 45, General March said
| the system of volunteer enlistment
in the United States army automat-
ically disappears.
Quotes War Chiefs.
! In his report, Chairman Cham
! berlain quoted extensively from
testimony before the committee b.
Secretary Baker, General March
and Provost Marshal General
Crowder.
The United States government,
General March is quoted as say
ing, has been asked by her allies
to embark upon a program so large
/ llAdL IL W tAa ItAtSHdlF vel y Edl u
fully to ascertain whether we
could go through with it or not
and one of the features of this
enlarged program was providing
men. The desire of the rdminis-
tration is to establish limits. both
maximum and minimum, which
will accomplish this program and
at the same time disorganize the
industries Of the country as little
as possible.
Aim Is TO Shorten War.
THE policy OF the war depart
ment is to put the maximum num-
Der of men in France with tha
idea OF shortening the war. We
found from figures furnished by
the provost marshal general tha.
we could embark on a program %
so divisions in France by June 30.
1913, with IS divisions at home.
These divisions consist roughly OF
10000 men TO a division After
prolonged study of the available
man-pOwcr Of the United States.
the provost marshal general show
ed that it was necessary to drop
to IS years of age and go to 40, in
order 10 get the men to carry it
through. All the men obtained un-
der the proposed change in the
draft approximately 2,3O0,0 ,00U
we expect to have in France by
June 30, 1919"
General March told the commit
tee that he was unqualihedly in
favor of having the army composed
OF as many young men as possible.
Young men between IS and 20. he
said, not only do not have many
encumbrances, but they ere better
lit physically.
Baker Explains Change.
Secretary Baker explained the
steps that led up to the change in
the military program.
After the recess Of congress"
the secretary said, the study OF
the situation went on and a few
days ago il became clear to US that
the so division program was per
haps the maximum which We could
POSSIBLY hope TO accomplish and
that 20 accomplish that IL would be
necessary to change the age limits
from the present limits 20 IS 10 A."
Secretary Baker said he asked
the surgeon general for a formal
opinion as 20 what changes he
would recommend, to which the
surgeon general suggested the ages
IS to 45.
Age Limits Necessary.
The bill as IL is written meets
with my entire approval" ." declared
Secretary Baker. Asked by Seua-
tor Johnson of California II he be-
lieved the pending bill was essen
tial 20 carry out the purposes for
which the United States entered the
war, Secretary Baker replied:
II believe that 10 be the fact.
Ny own judgment about Il orig
inally was that 10 should be tho
minimum and | came TO the Is min
imum only after a thorough study
OF the situation and with some re-
luctance, but finally believing it to
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