Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
100000 MORE MEM
To Be SUMMONED
IN MAY OR JUNE
Those Who Have Become 81 Dur
ing Past Year Likely to be
Included in New Call.
1,70O, 900 ARE NOW IN ARMY
by Associated Press to Every Evening

BY Associated Press to Every Evening
WASHINGTON, Fen. 16.
New insight into the plans of the War
Department for conducting its part OF
the war is afforded in a statement made
by Secretary Baker before the House
Committee on Military Affairs, yesterday
afternoon. The evidence brought out
revealed these principal facts.
The next draft will not be called until
May and probably not until juno next,
when 100000 additional men will be
certified for service IN the National Army
The calls for these men will be gov
crncd by the capacity of the canton
Ineuts.
The provost marshal general IN charge
OF raising the National Army desires 70
disregard the existing plan for the ap-
portiouing Of men called from the various
States and asks for power to call any
number from any State.
General Crowdcr desires also to have
included in the next draft men who have
become II years Of age since the general
registration last june.
The War Department is without
definite estimates Of the number of
men who will be in France this year
The army now has more officers than
are necessary for its present strength.
Army appropriations for nix months
At a time may be provided, instead Of
one wear, as at present, owing 70 the
uncertainty.
Secretary Baker unhesitaiingly told
the committee that the next draft would
not be called 10 the coIor5 before next
May, and after discussion with some
members of the committee agreed that
deferring il until June might be wiser
There was strong indication that this
plan would bc adopted
Asgs RELIEF FOR FARMEHs
Representative ShalIcnbcrger (Neb.)
obtained the admission from the Sec
retary thft due to the policy of Provost
Marsha raj Crowder in trying to
obtain Ii required number Of men from
among tic registrants who have no de
pendcnts the majority Of the men for the
national army would come from country
districts. Planting of corn and wheat
crops in April and May might be seriously
inpcded by drawing this labor ava
from the farming districts, sMr Shallen-
berger said, and might result in q short
crop This fact Mr. Baker promised
To take under serious consideration
IN planning for the call.
The men certified for service under
hfft HfasA ifslsSf AoatNEf 5t4A0s Htbk+
be called TO service in incrpments as
the Is National Army cantonments are
ready To receive them. The rapidity
with which they are called depends en-
tirely on how fast the men now trained
can be transported to France He depre-
Gated the suggestion that several mil
lion men be trained and ready TO %, be-
cause II would not have even a moral
effect on Germany, as that nation Is
aware OF the inability Of the United
States to ship that number of men 70
Europe at short notice and keep them sup
piled before the shipbuilding program
IS far more advanced than it IS now.
cRowDER's REQUEST OPPOSED.
Cen Crowder, IN order to fill the ranks
of the National Army. desires to be en-
powered by law to disregard the fact
that each State is to be called on for a
percentage of the total troops needed in
proportion TO its total registration. This
the committee Is inclined 10 frown upon,
but will grant IL If Mr.. Baker can give
proof of its need.
The committee indicated It's disap-
pFovaI also of the suggestion that men
who have reached 2l since last June.
when the general registration of every
one in the country between q and 81
years occurred should be ca led.
1t was admitted that this dis
approval was based largely on
the sentiment against placing extreme
young manhood on the firing line, 1t
was pointed out TO the committee. how
ever, that when they reach the age Of
manhood these youths assume every
other quality OF citizenship and should
be subjected TO draft rs we'll rs those who
were 21 year ago.
Secretary Baker admitted that it is
impossible for the War Department TO
make any estimate of the number Of
American troops who Will be in France
by the end of the wear This is not
mainly dependent on the War Depart
ment, he said, but on the number of
ships which can be furnished TO trans
port the men and supply them after they
are abroad. He expressed hope of the
aims of the Shipping Board being fully
accomplished.
ESTIMATES ARE GIVEN.
With the next draft under arIns-and
that time is problematical also-the Sec
retary said there would be q total of
American troops IN the neighborhood Of
., 200, 600 men here and in Europe There
are at present about LOO, 900, or viii be
when the last Is per cent under the
first draft are called out this month
Secretary Baker asserted the army
was more plentifully supplied with officers
at present than was absolutely neces-
sary, but the committee was inclined
to applaud this fact 1t was recalled
that France and Great Britain are suf-
fering from lack Of officers, and that 1t IS
far easier to supply men than trained
officers to command them.
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