The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-04
MUCH GREATER ARMY.
NEW ARMY ESTIMATE BASED
ON DETERMINATION TO
WIN WAR.
secretary Baker Goes to Congress To.
day-Expccted to Explain That De-
partment Believes it Can Handle
Double Number Now Under Arms.


Double Number Now Under Arms.
washington, May 1.-Secretary Ba-
ker will carry to congress tomorrow
the army increase program mapped
out by President Wilson and his ad-
visers based on the determination to
win the war if it takes the whole
manpower Of the nation to do it. There
are indications that he will ask that
all restrictions on the number Of
troops to be raised be removed and
the government authorized to mobi-
lize as many men as II can equip,
train and send to the battle front in
France.
When the war secretary appears
before the house military committee
with supplemental estimates for the
| army, he is expected to disclose that
the department has reason to believe
1t can handle during the present year
at least double the existing force un-
der arms Of approximately 1900 900
| men. That would mean a total Of 81
100000 soldiers for whom clothing,
equipment and transportation now
are in sight. Should additional Ca
cilities become available, however, 1t
Is indicated that President Wilson
wishes to be able to call out more men
without delaying to seek authority.
! Evidences came today in various
ways of the effort that already is be-
ing made to send American armies
into the fight in such numbers and in
such time as to make victory certain
In the morning heads of the shipping
board and the war industries board
met with the war council, composed
OF army officials. Details of addi-
tional ships and supplies were gone
into. it is understood.
| Later the presidents war cabine,
met with him at the White House
and went over the ground thorough.
ly.
| In the house, Chairman Dent of tho
military committee introduced a bill
that would authorize the mobilization
and organization Of 100000 selective
service men. instead Of the 1000, ,00(
to which the government Is limit.
ed by the existing act. Mr.. Dent said
the measure was his own and he had
not consulted the war department
on it,
Under the new classification
scheme there are understood to be l..
100000 men Immediately available
FOR active service in Glass /. That es-
innate is based on the returns of nu.
merous States and the law Of aver.
ages. 1t excludes all men rated as fl,
only for limited special service, all de-
linquents slated for immediate Undue.
ton into Class 1 when apprehended
and all of the so-called remedial
cases, the men who will be fit for ac.
tive service after operations or med
ical treatment to correct minor ply.
sical defects. Behind that, also, stand
the men who have reached 21 years
since the draft act was passed and
who will be brought in under pend
ing amendments. Probably the total
of electives in Glass 1 will prove to
be 2.5OC,000 men when the definite
| figures are available.
This is the first reservoir from
which men will be drawn to fiji I'm
the new armies. 1t is conceivable that
Class l will be exhausted in time. but
rot before it had furnished all
the men who can be shipped to
France before congress meets again.
For this reason it is regarded as prob
able that the question Of increasing
age limits of the draft act or of draw
Ing upon Glass 2 can be deferred un-
til congress again convenes.
Secretary Baker appeared today be-
fore the conference of shipping board
| officials with ship owners and sea-
mems unions to urge prompt manning
OF new ships He told the conference
that the movement Of troops was 60
ing smoothly.
The record of achievement during
the last few weeks is pointed to with
pride by war department officials.
Military precautions forbid disclosure
OF the rate at which the army is be-
ing sent to the front, but Mr.. Baker
VIII be able to give the house COM