El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-07
EXTENSION OF THE DRAFT AGES
WILL BE APPROVED BY THE NATION

THE country viii give practically unanimous approval to
the administration program to extend the draft ages SO
as 70 include all between the sges Of 70 and IS years
whose names not already the selecve service list
The proposed extension would take in all youths be-
70 q and I'll older between 81 and a. Those
between q and 81 are registered now AT the urgent re-
Quest of secretary Of Baker bill ebOdyIng these Tea
has been introduced in both houses Of congress II
viii be passed There Is not the least doubt ABOUT mat
majority Of congress has been in favor Of such bill for a
long time and many members LED BY senator Cnemberan
chairman Of the senate committee on military affas cam
sigued for il long before secretary Of Baker could
the sdvisabilty Of immediate action
Provost marshal general Eno Crowder who in charge
Of the administration the selecve service act wanted
extension Of the draft ages months ago and he IS now
coming forward with earnest insistence that the bill
through as soon as possible He has pointed that in
other way VIII it be possible to keep the present rate
Of sending into the army without going outside Of class
It IS Gen Crowders idea-and the country agrees with
hi-that only should the Of class one already
registered be sent into service before the other classes
drawn upon but all men between 10 IS Who if regis
The deferred classes sent This is TO prevent far
possible the distress and hardship incident upon sending
into whose going would mean financial suffering
families left behind.
It has been wrong all along send to the young
without dependents and leave behind perhaps in the
young mans civil occupation older without de-
pendents simply because he happens be than 81
years Of age But that unavoidable The machinery
Of the draft elaborate as was was not big enough to take
Of total registration Of about 100000 men,
would the Of the army have been sufficient to
house, equip and otherwise for the Of class
called into service any more rapidly than they have
The department had to plan register induct and
train the most possible and stop at the maximum and
the legislation heretofore created BY congress has been in
line with department requirements.
When this bin passes It means another great registTa-
ton day IS coming, Gen CTowder has suggested Septem
Der the day About 100000 viii be registered on
that day, whenever it is.
Tie number Of 81 to IS available for VIII
De considerably smaller proporonately than IN the pres
ages dependency physical disability will figure
largely It is estimated that Of the 100000 be
81 and IS who would register only about 6o 900
be
low, however On the other hand, of the than 5000
coo regsrants between the ages Of 10 and 81 It is es
mated that 1887 sos would be eligible for class
The necessity for passing the bin IS shown by the state
ent Of Gen CrOwder that the present Of induc
ton class VIII be exhausted before the end Of the year
IN September but 10000 VIII remain Looking for
ward the time when the present class Is AL in serv
ice and assuming the passage Of the bill extending the
military age limits, foot mp probable manpower
resources follows: 100000 between 81 and IS;
17s75oe mer between 70 and q, fetal of 25s7 6o9
These with the already service, viii bring the total
strength Of the army, in about to be in service
to approximately 100000 men. The number Of young
arriving q years Of age and eligible physically and
otherwise for military service estimated at 100000
total number Of men coming into military age each year
should be about 100000.
If the estimates prove correct there should be no neces-
y fer going into the deferred classes for men for the
creation Of army Of 100000 men has been the goal Of
the war department and 100000 requirements year
should more than keep it up to strength If the estimates
incorrect; If 100000 men are not enough and more
millions needed, the in the deferred classes viii
be wiling and glad to swell the ranks and their families
VIII bear enforced prvaons the best way possible and
The industries, which may have to be combed out viii re-
place going into the army with or with men