Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-09
WAR DEPARTMENT IS
PLANNING ARMY Of
FIVE MILLION MEN
viii Be Used to Speed UP
Prosecution of War and
Bring 1t to an Early Con-
CIuSion

/ General March told the senate military
committee today that the war depart
ment plans an army OF approximately
/ 5000. 600 men, to be raised as soon as
possible.
/ While realizing the Importance of the
measure. General March said he did not
/ believe il was necessary to recall con-
/ gress before the present recess plan ex-
pires on August "a. providing the bin
could be reported at that time.
About July 30 General March said, the
/ United States reached a decision to en-
large it's military program to carry out
the policies agreed upon at the recent
/ inter-allied conference at Paris to speed
UP prosecution of the war and bring 1t
TO an early conclusion
The chief of staff entered into gen
eral discussion of the entire subject and
the necessity for amending the present
law. Much of his statement given to
the committee behind closed doors was
supplementary to that of Provost Mar
shall General Crowder yesterday.
Questioned by senators regarding the
apparent change of 'front.' of the war
department in its program, General
March told of the governments decision
IN according with the Paris conference.
For the new program Secretary Baker
and other officials concluded that there
Z
While about three million men are
now under arms, army officials think
there should be approximately five mil
lion men at home and in France. In
order not to disturb the present system
and to avoid calling men who had been
given exemption, extension OF the ages
is necessary.
From General March's testimony and
other information received, the commit
~H-.wa hat hi =
all men between the ages of eighteen
and forty-five would be subject to mill
tary duty. under the new law it is pro-
posed that those between eighteen and
twenty years of age shall be kept in
this country until the last.
Upon the suggestion of Senator Wads-
worth that the system be extended to
the navy. Senator Chamberlain announc-
ed that either Secretary Daniels or Ad-
miral Benson would be asked to appear
tomorrow before the committee to dis
Gus sthe advisability of the subject
Senator Chamberlain said he was not
sure just when the committee would
be able to report out the bill. Secretary
Baker is expected to return Saturday
and the committee desires to hear from
him before taking any action A num-
Der Of other witnesses probably will be
called in addition to representatives of
the navy department
The prohibition controversy may hold
up consideration OF the bill. Under
the unanimous consent agreement pro-
posed wartime prohibition is to be taken
up when the senate reconvenes. with
final vote on August 26.
This can only be set aside by unani-
nous consent, and Senator Sheppard, of
Texas prohibition leader in the senate.
expressed the opinion today that a unan-
imous consent agreement could not be
obtained unless the draft bill can be
taken up and disposed of with practical
ly no debate.
Under the unanimous consent agree
ment which brought on a recess of con-
gress, the house is to reconvene with a
quorum on August 10. The senate, how
ever, decided to go a week beyond that
date and did not intend to return to
work until late in August.
Because of the urgency Of selective
service legislation leaders in both houses
began today to consider the ACCESSIBILITY
Of sending out hurry calls to absenteees
and reassembling congress within the
next two weeks. An appeal by the presi-
dent is not considered as necessary, as
it is believed absent senators and repre-
sentatives would return to Washington
prompt yOn notification from the party
leaders that a quorum was necessary in
the two houses.
General CrOwder estimated today that
fully 2,39s,S45 additional electives"
viii be obtained under the new age linn
its. He estimates that the ages be-
tween thirty-two and forty-five will pro-
duce 6Ol.236 fighters and the ages be-
tween eighteen and twenty-one will pro-
duce 1880 class one men.
General Crowder further estimates
there will he 81 II OOO 000
Tegistrants on September between the
ages Of Is and 81. Thus more than
100000 men are expected to fill out
qucstiOnnaires month from today.
Since 1O,OOO,O 900 men have already reg
istered under the old limits, approx
mately one-fifth of the population of
the nation will be registered for mill
tary service within the next month or
soon thereafter.
Nevertheless, it will be seen from the
estimates of the provost marshal general
that the total number of men qualifying
for active military service will reach a
figure many millions removed from the
registration figures. The ages 80 to As,
for instance, are apparently expected to
produce for the trenches somewhat more
than a half million men, although TO-
10000 must register 20 bring about that
return.
This indicates that the ratio of ac-
ceptances will be about sixteen to one.
While sixteen men OF the higher ages
will register only abort one of the lot
will be mustered into the warfare on
the western front Essential employ
ment, physical disabilities, dependency
and other exemptions will bring about
a very low return on the registration
investment
As previously shown, however, the ex-
tension OF the age to forty-ive years
will make more effective the work or
ught" policy Of the administration and
will be a distinct aid TO essential indus
tries
When the provost marshal general
reaches the lowest ages, ranging from
Is TO 81, the returns will be immeas-
urably greater. Out Of an estimated
registration Of little more than three
million men, or boys, the eligibles for
military service will produce an esti-
mated total of 1.797,OOO. These young
sters are TO be divided into classes and
called out as the president deems it
necessary; that is, an eighteen-year-old
boy will hardly be sent TO war so long
as class one contains a boy who has
nearly reached tWenty-one.
In placing the younger boys at the
foot of the class, so to speak, the war