Evening journal., 1918-05-04
ARMY Of 2.29S.0OQ
By JULY. IS Plan
Bakers SI5,OOO,OOO,OOO
Estimate Based on Plan
TO Refill Camps
DELAWARE TO
GIVE 400 MORE

War Baker yesterday again discussed
plans for expanding the army with lhe
House Military Affairs Committee, which .
has in charge the military appropria-
ton bill. An army Of more than SOW /
900 men, including those now IN the
service, was the basis upon which Mr.. !
Baker asked that funds for tho next
year be appropriated, although ne SAID
this number was tentative and subject
70 increase at any time. Under this
plsn. the present army, comprising j.
10000 men and 10000 officers, would
be nearly doubled.
state officials were sent calls FOR
233.742 men to nj the May draft quota.
The men VIII start for the camps about
May %.
The men were ordered for camp with
In 1--WE days period. beginning May %
This brings the total number OF men
called for the month Of May, including
special classes, TO approximately JJo'VVO'
Secretary Baker authorized the state
ment that the total appropriations tor
the fiscal year i9iS-i9 submitted 70
Congress was approximately Sio'VOO,-
100000. exclusive OF the amounts car
rled In the separate fortincauons Dill
covering coast defenses and heavy oru-
nance. -,
Major General March, acting chief OF
stan. told the House Military Committee
that every existing cantonment woulo
be enlarged to proved for adoltonai
troops TO be modified. National Ouaru
camps also Will be used 10 then
capacity. ,,-,--,-z
Because the number Of disbursins
bureaus in the War Department nave
been cut from twenty-one TO eleven
Secretary Baker told the committee il
would be necessary to rewrne the MIL
tary bill so as to make the approprld
tion payable through tho co-orolnate,
bureaus There was some opposition
70 this in the committee, but II IS OK
pected 10 be ironed out. Members salS
that the bill should be reported abou
the end Of next week.
The total however, does not mciud
the amounts 10 be expended for coas
ARTILLERY and defenses and heavy ord
nance and material for the army. whicl
will be authorized in the fortiheation
appropriation bill, not yet considere
By the military committee.
Secreatary Baker told the commute
that approximately half million dollar
Of the amount TO be carried in IN
military bill win be employed in tn
navment Of debts contracted in exoes
n the appropriations for the currer
fiscal wear. This enormous dehoienc!
he said. IS due 10 the fact that the ul
Darfment has had 10 go far ahead OF I
original program In almost every part
Uular Of supply.
paw fpr the army for the fiscal yei
1919 will consume S2,O00,OO0,0OO or u
total 10 be appropriated In the miiitai
hill the committee was told by Gener
March. chief Of stan, and his asslstal
Colonel Bretts.
Secretary Baker declined TO fix ar
definite period over which the appr
priatlons he asks win carry the depar
ment He did say. however, that u
gigantic amount should be sufficient
ieS-t until December, when Congress
assemblies.
Also. h was declared by Secreta
Raker plans nave been completed 4
reduction Of the period Of training
he given men on this side Of the oce
and for increased training facilities
France.
He was emphatic in his objection
fhe proposal Of several members
the committee that the draft age
advanced TO include all men mp
forty years. One OF the reasons he ga
Tor his opposition was that all l
men who can passibly be handled c
be obtained from present eliglbil
lists and another was that such
measure would Interfere seriou
with necessary industries.
Secretary Baker informed the co
mittee that the airplane building p
gram had not been an utter failure.
said that he welcomed an invesugat
by the committee which might lead
good results.
some OF the items In the Army
are.
Ouartermaster, s5,OoOOOO.OOO; o
nance, s4.O0O,OOOOOO; Engineer Cor
a. 100000; pay Of officers and M
5000 100000; Medical Corps, $40
100000: Aviation Service. Si,2OOOOOi
In addition to these there will
moro than a Si,OO0O0OOOO appropriai
FOR miscellaneous items, some Of wh
viii be obtained from Congress In
fclency bills before the end Of the I
fiscal year.
Representative Dent, Chairman Of
Military Committee. who has oppC
many OF the war policies, announced
day that he would oppose the prop
tion 70 give the President unlim
pover. He stands almost alone In
position In the committee. other m
bers said that II the President shl
attempt 10 raise an army larger
Congress favored all that was ne
sary 10 prevent it was refusal to
propriate the necessary money.