Evening journal., 1918-07-29
CAP IS Feared IN
NATIONAL ARMY
Steady Flow of Men luto
II May Stop Sometime
in November
CLASS ONE is
NEAR AN END

WASHINGTON, July 29-Fhst there
is to be a hiatus in the stesdy flow Of
men into the National Army beginning
in November at the latest, as a result
of the delay OF the administration 10
making up its mind regarding the in
crease OF the draft ages is beginning to
appear more and more like certainty.
Senator Wordsworth Of New York
pointed this out TO the Senate when
Secretary Baker and Gen. March asked
that consideration OF the question be
postponed last June. Since them, how
ever, 260,000 oombatant 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
reservoir which Senator Underwood
and ether defenders Of Mr.. Baker
thought was full enough shows unmis-
taxable signs Of an approaching
drought.
Because of the induction Of many OF
their Glass men In the special branch
es. large number Of districts are even
now at the end Of Glass 4.
In a speech at Cleveland saturday
night Representative Kahn, one OF the
sblest military experts in the House,
called attention 10 the seriousness OF
the situation. 'G0ngress,' said Mr..
Kahn, should change the draft law
Immediately after the recess, so that
several million men can be added at
once to Glass 4. The situation as / in
terpret II brooks no delay"
nnlrn, hoc rrf,-or, M fndfno-
tion as yet that his man power plan
which he promised Congress ne weuld
submit some time in the fall is anything |
like ready, and that is what Is causing
alarm here. Even II his plan is sub
mitted by September / the certainty
that the question will stir up an extend
ed debate and the fact that Congress
will then be IN the throes Of the rev.
enue bill seem to preclude the possible
ity Of enactment OF a new draft law
before September IS, with the 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 10 ninety days, That
would mean that the first Of the new
drafted men would not begin to dow
into the army before November or even
December IS.
1t now appears that the original Glass
4 will be exhausted by this week But
10 this have been added the men obtain
ed through combining other classes,
estimated at about 100000. There are
also the 100000 reglstrants Of last June,
These estimates stretched TO the ut
most will not quite supply the August,
September and October calls. This is
what brings into view the biatus in
November and possibly in December un-
hess the War Department and Congress
act quickly.
II was the prospect Of just such a
gap at a most crucial time that Is be-
Iieved to have led Gen. Growder TO dis
'gree fatty with Secretary Baker when
he matter came up last June. Gen.
,rOwder was supported by the opinion
4 Chairman Chamberlain Of the SEN
te Military Committee and by Repre-
entative Kahn Of the House commit !
se. But Gen. GroWder was forced 10 !,
ow to the wishes Of his civilian SUI =
eFior.
II Is announced that Gen. CrOwder is q
3out to go away for a month or two. y
0 explanation of his leaving Washing q,
m at this time is forthcoming and In :,
ew OF the situation presented the mat ~
r is causing considerable comment. a