Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-06-28
DRAFT AGE CHANGE
OPPOSED BYBAKER;
PLANS GREAT ARMY
Senate Military Body Votes
Against Amendment.
CHIEFS ASK 9o-DAY DELAY
Assert Change in Age Limit Should BE
Deferred as Enough Men for Ex-
listing Army Program Are
Available.

Washington, June 27.-After Secre-
tary Baker and General March had OPP
posed revision of draft age limits and
announced that within 80 days the war
department would submit a new and
enlarged army program, the senate
military committee voted against any
legislation TO change the draft age linn
it's from twenty-one and thirty-one
years to twenty and forty years.
Senator Chamberlain announced
that it is proposed to call in August
100000 draft men, in September $780,
600, in October 10000, In November
10000, and in December 125,000.
These, he said, are expected to ex-
haust Glass 1.
Debate Is Spirited.
Spirited all-day debate of the Ques-
ton in the senate, in which important
revelations of the nations military
program were made. followed the mil
itary committee conference and the
senate adjourned in the midst of the
discussion with vote not In immedi-
ate prospect but with administration
leaders confident of the ultimate de-
feat of the proposal.
The fight is to be resumed today
with a final vote expected before the
end of the week.
. Hitchcock Gives Figures.
Senator Hitchcock gave figures stat
ing that in August, when the final call
on men In class l will have exhaust
ed that class, there will be 100000
men in the army and the highest esti-
mate of the number of American
troops which win be in France by that
time is 1,450,00O.
Secretary Baker said an enlarged"
program for the army is planned in a
formal statement made after he had
been closeted with the committee for
nearly three hourse with his aids. He
said:
81 presented to the committee state
ments that for the present there are
enough men in class sufficient for our
prospective needs. and when the en-
larged program of the United States is
ready for presentation TO congress we
will at the same time have complete
data on which to base any recommen-
dations for change in the age limits
OF the draft"
Most of the senators who heard the
statements believed congress would
follow the recommendation.
When the senate reconvened and re-
sumed the consideration of the army
bill Senator Chamberlain said:
Both the secretary and General
March are of the opinion that no
change ought TO be made in the age
limits az this time They say that
no harm can be done and no delay
occasioned by postponement of chang
ing the ages until September, and they
very much advise against a change I'M
ill this investigation can be had.
1.-THE committee was advised that
troops are being sent over partly in
French and British bottoms and there
NAV be some changes In that arrange
ment July. 1--either that the arrange
ment will continue or more American
tonnage will be available.
In Favor of Delay.
.'They feel that before any change
should be made there should be a
FUN investigation before disturbing the
social and Industrial conditions of the
country.
The committee concluded by ma
iority vote it would not be best to I'M
,iertake ut this time change In the
draft limits"