Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-05-09
CAPACITY TO
SHIP TROOPS
CHIEF DELAY
Secretary of War Says Training
and Transport Facilities
Are Being Enlarged
at Rapid Pace.
CAN'T ESTIMATE CLOSELY
Main Thing Is to Send as Many
Men as Possible-Man Pow
er Is ARCHAEOLOGICAL
10000 In May.
CAN'T ESTIMATE CLOSELY
BY l.. c. MARTIN.
United Press Staff Correspondent.

Ss'ss0S SOU0SPOtOSUks
Washington. u. c., May 3.--The war
departments ability to equip and
transport men is the only limit to be
placed on Americas 1918 army. Sec
rotary Bake today informed the House
military affairs committee.
Baker did not present any definite
figures as to the number of men the
department intends to send "for the
'fouble reason that any number implies
Il limit and that the facilities for
"%anipping and transporting men are
constantly on the increase"
Behind closed doors, Baker, Provost
Marshal General Crowder and Genera
March. chief of staff. discussed with
the committee the man power POSSIBLE
lies of the United States during 1918
and 1919.
Questions involving the placement of
drafted men on call lists were taken
Up first. Baker indicated he would
have Il statement Tor publication later
IN the afternoon.
lie asked congress for blanket au-
1lority to increase the American army
iust as rapidly and by the largest num-
hey OF men that it is possible to equip
and transport.
"Force to the Utmost"
President Wilson i'm carrying out his
proclamation of force to the utmost has
not put any bounds around the num-
her nf American fighters who will be
thrown into the fray for the worlds
Freedom, Baker declared.
His request for unlimited power to
draft men as often and in as large num-
i,crs as can be prepared was we'll re-
ceived by the committee.
The secretary did not discuss any
change in the draft age, he stated after
the hearing.
Neither did he 20 into details of the
,i,,Day 1,ouujra] fo,. f),a army nm in
June, 1919.
lie will take this up with the COM
tm.ltee tomorrow.
The secretary issued a brief formal
statement following tho hearing.
"Ihe war departments program was
presented to the committee this morn
1na.' said Secretary Baker. ut in
wolves eXpediting the training of men
and increasing the army as rapidly as
ON ability to equip and transport can
be fpreseen.
"Details for the estimates for the
regular appropriations for 191S-1919
will will be gone oyer with the commit
tee tomorrow, beginning at 10 o'clock.
These estimates when approver by the
committee and enacted by congress,
will. of course. he supplemented as
facilities for equipping and transport
ms more men become apparent"
Call 100000 in May.
Immediately after MIR. Bakers depar-
ture the committee went into executive
session to consider his request. Mem
hers indicated the committee would
quickly acquiesce.
Coincident with Bakers appearance
before the committee. it became known
that the draft office will end out Il
can. probably Friday or Saturday, for
a quota estimated at more han 200, 900
men. the largest single call thus far
made Another 100000 will be sum
none in May.
Al the same time the shipping board.
forging ahead on providing extra on
mage. revealed that 100000 tons of
overseas shipping will be added to the
merchant marine as u result of it's
policy Of expansion.
General Crowder was to appear with
Secretary Baker to explain how added
increments at this time would affect
war industries. Crowder also was to
insist on reconsideration of the House
draft amendments giving credit on
draft quotas for Volunteers and plac-
ing all the 81 year old men at the foot
of rho registry list.