Evening star., 1918-06-25
SENATE |NFAV0R
OF SLAVIC LEGION
Amendment Also Provides
EnIisting Oppressed Citizens
of Central Powers.

Organization Of a volunteer Slavic
Legion" IN the United States for serv-
ice at the front, composed of mem
bers Of oppressed races of Austria
and Germany, was approved today by
the Senate. the amendment provid-
ing for the legion, but excluding
Poles, because Of the recent organi-
zation in France of a Polish army,
was added to the $4,000. .oOO. 600 Army
appropriation bill by unanimous vote
Of the Senate.
Under the amendment Jugoslavs,
Czechs. Ruthenians and other citi-
zens Of the Teutonic powers in this
ped in this country to fight in the
common cause for liberty.
For Using Naturalized Germans.
Amendments by Senator's Calder and
Wadsworth of New York providing
that naturalized Germans or Aus
trians may be commissioned in the
Army or Navy when their loyalty is
unquestioned also, were adopted by
the Senate.
The provisions, however, are not
mandatory but discretionary. Chair
man Chamberlain said it has not been
the policy Of the War Department to
commission men born in the enemy
country.
In requesting elimination of Poles
from the scope of the Slavic Legion,
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, chair
man of the foreign relations commit
tee and author Of the amendment
which was approved by President
Wilson, said that two-thirds of the
Polish army recently organized by
France were from the United States,
and organization OF Poles in this
country might interfere with the
French enterprise.
Poles may now fight under their
own nag in France" he said, while
enlistment of Poles in the Slavic le-
gion might detract from the effort
in France and would not be conducive
to unity Of enterprise in the common
cause"
Senator McCumber pointed out that
this government would have the moral
obligation of protecting after the war
the citizens Of Austria and Germany
who enlist In the Slavic legion.
Senator Hitchcock said the patriotism
of Slavs in this country in their effort
to fight their own nation and secure lib
erty for their peoples wasNso great that
he thought thousands would risk being
shot as traitors II captured in order to
fight in the proposed legion.
In rapid disposal Of amendments to
the bill, that OF Senator Fall Of New
Mexico, proposing extension Of the draft
to men between eighteen and forty-fi five
years Of age, was called up this after
noon.
Changes in Draft Age Proposed.
The Senate made rapid progress in
consideration Of the Army bill yes
terday afternoon, Senator Fall of New
Mexico. republican, offered an amend
ment to the measure extending the
eighteen to forty-five years old The
by Senator France now before the
Senate military committee, went over
without discussion.
Presentation of the amendment Is
expected to bring to a vote at this
session Of Congress the question of
extending the draft ages. which has
been agitated recently. Provost Mar
shall Gen. Crowder has told the Senate
military committee that such extern
sion was necessary to furnish the
man power needed In the war on
Germany, and Secretary Baker has
announced that he will offer no op-
position II Congress decides to act
at this time.
Unless the administration urges i'm
mediate action. however. Senate lead
ers believe that the Fall amendment
will be defeated. Even some Of those
favoring extension Of the draft ages
believe that action should be deferred
while the question is studied at great
er length. and many members Of both
houses are opposed to extending the
limit below twenty-one.