New-York tribune., 1918-08-02
Baker Bill to
Extend Draft
Ages Is Ready
Congress May Be Urged to
Call Men l9 to SO
e Into Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. War De.
partment recommendations for enlarg.
ing the army for the extension of draft
age limitations in order to provide new
reservoirs of man power to back up the
forces already at the front will be laid
before Congress next week Members
of the two military committees have
been recalled to Washington by the
chairmen in order to expedite the bill.
In announcing, following a confer
ence with Chairman Dent, of the
House committee, that his increased
army project was virtually ready, Sec
1etary Baker would not say what age
limits had been settled on, nor indi-
cate in any way the size of the army
which he is planning.
II do not want to say what the ages
will be-" he said, "because the concur
rent action of the two houses is neces-
sary to secure assent to them. l had
conference with Mr.. Dent this morn
ing and went over with him the full
plan, involving the suggested ages. /
am 70 nave conference with Senator
chamberlain as soon as he gets back.
Revision Both Ways
"Any suggestion to extend the draft
ages is to produce in Glass / an ade-
quate number of men for the enlarged
military programme. If the ages are
revised they will have to be either be-
LOW twenty or above thirty-one, or
both. l think it will be both.'
The only specinc information regard
ing the new age limits to be drawn
from Mr.. Baker was a statement that
the limits of nineteen to forty had
peen among, the suggestions canvassed
but rejected. In many quarters it is
believed extension to the ages of nine
teen and thirty-siX will be recon-
mended.
Secretary Baker has heretofore an
nounced that his policy in recommend
ing any change in draft ages would be
to seek a sufficient number of men to
meet the army's needs in such ages as
would least disturb the economic situ-
alton at home. The bulk of the new
forces. in his view, should be drawn
from the youngest class of men physi-
cally able to stand the strain of mod
ern warfare.
250,000 a Month
AS to the size of the army for which
this increased Class 1 is necessary no
official has dropped a hint, with the
exception of General March, who is an
nouncing the creatioa of 4 July sched.
ule of six new divisions, followed 6y
an August schedule of the same num-
Der, and who has indicated the embark
alton upon such monthly programme
At this rate approximately 250,UOO
men month will be sent overseas,
their places in the home cantonmen,s
to be taken by 100000 new men.
1t is not certain that the department
is aiming at the creation of force of
any definite size. There are now up
ward of 100000 American troops
either overseas or en- route. Secretary
Baker said to-day the shipment rate
Of the carly part of July had been
maintained throughout the month, al
though he did not have available the
total shipment. Under the 256,O0O
n on'l: suggestion and without mishap
to the supply line, October should sec
1000 900 Americans overseas, and the
opening OF the spring campaign of
1919, when many officers believe the
final scenes of the German defeat will
begin in great combined drive
against the German lines, might easily
see 100000 ready for action, with an
other force Of substantially 100000
organized at home