Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-26

Washington, June 26.-Secretary
Baker and General March, chief OF
staff, informed the senate military
committee today that they opposed
as premature and unnecessary the
proposed extension of the army
draft age limits.
Provost Marshal General Crow
der, whose approval of the exten-
sion has been cited by advocates of
the change in the senate, also ap-
peared before the committee to say
that while he was not insistent upon
immediate legislation, he thought
action should be taken in time to
secure new registrants under the
revised age limits early next year.
Change Not Needed.
The army officials attended a
meeting of the committee just be-
fore the senate convened to con
tinue consideration of the army ap-
preparation bill, with amendments
pending to change the age limits.
General March and Mr.. Baker said
sufficient men are available and
subject to call from the first reg
istratiOn, the recIassification now
in progress, and from the 100000
new registrants of the 1918 class
for the army's requirements during
the next few months. General
opinion of the army general staff
accords with this view, General
March said
Most of the senators who heard
the statements believed congress
would follow the recommendation
May Lower Age to 30.
If congress insists upon imme-
diate legislation, Secretary Baker,
General March and General Crow
der were said to be agreed, the
minimum age limit of 81 should be
lowered to secure younger men for
military service rather than to make
any extensive raise in the maxi
mum age limit by which older men
would be secured. They 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 in
stead of the present minimum of
81.
The latest statistics and esti-
mates regarding the number of men
still available under the present
draft law and the new British-Cana-
dian treaty were presented conf
dentially to the committee, together
with the war departments plans
for further draft calls.
Promise New Army Program.
Secretary Baker, it was said, ex-
pressed merely his personal views
and those of his military advisors
and did not suggest the opinion of
President Wilson on the question,
although it had been reported that
the president also opposed immedi-
ate legislation. In asking that the
draft legislation go over for the
present. Secretary Baker and Gen
eral March said that within sixty
or ninety days, probably about the
middle of August. after the pro-
posed recess of congress, the ad-
will submit a new
comprehensive army program, COW
ering not only the number of men
it is proposed to raise, but also deal
ing with shipping and other prob
lens.
Enlarged" Schedule Planned.
Secretary Baker said an "en-
!arged" program for the army is
planned. in a formal statement
made after he had been closeted
with the committee for nearly three
hours with his aides.
Il presented 10 the committee
said Mr.. Baker. that
for the present there are enough
men in class one sufficient for our
needs and when the en-
arged program of the United States
S ready for presentation to con-
gress we will at the same time have
data on which to base any
-ecomm endations for change in the !
sge limits of the draft.
After the conference with Secre- |
AIRY Baker and his aides the mill |
AIRY committee decided to follow
heir recommendation and to op- !
pose any legislation at this time !
changing the draft age limits
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FORM JEWISH ARMY.
Pittsburgh, Pa. June 26.--Zion |