The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-26
NO Ey1'EySI0N
OF ENAFT AGE
Pending Preparation by the
War Department of a
New Army Program
CONGRESS WILL
HOLD UP ACTION
Sec. Baker and Gen. March
Opposed Widening of
the Present Plan

Washington, D. c., June 26e- After
of staff, had opposed revision of draft
age limits and announced that within go
or 90 days the war department would
submit to Congress a new and enlarged
army program, the Senate military com
mittee to-day decided TO oppose any leg
islation to change the draft ages.
Provost Marshal General Crowder,
whose approval of the extension had
been cited by advocates of the change in
the Senate, also appeared before the COM
mittee to say that, while he was not in
sistent upon immediate legislation, he
thought action should be taken in time
to secure new registrants under the re-
vised age limits early next year.
The army officials attended a meeting
of the committee just before the Senate
convened to continue consideration of the
army appropriation bill, with amend
ment pending to increase the age limits
General March and Mr.. Baker said suffi-
cient men are available and subject to
call from the first registration and from
the 100000 new registrants of the 1918
class for the army's requirements during
the next few months. General opinion of
the army general staff accords with this
view, General March said.
Most of the senators who heard the
statements believed Congress would fol-
low the recommendation.
If Congress insists upon immediate
legislation, Mr.. Baker, General March
and Gen Crowder were said to be agreed,
! bn ;,,s,s oF ~ -
lowered to secure younger men for mill
tary service rather than to make any ex-
tensive raise in the maximum age limit
by which older men would be secured.
They told the committee that more and
better fighting men would be secured by
reduction of the age limit-they suggest
ed it be made 20 years instead of the
present minimum of 2l.
The latest statistics and estimates re-
garding the number of men still available
under the present draft law and the new
British Canadian treaty were presented
,onfdentially to the committee, together
with the war departments plans for
further draft calls.
Secretary Baker, it was said, expressed
merely his personal views and those of
his military advisers and did not suggest
he opinion of President Wilson on the
question, although it had been reported
hat the president also opposes in1medi
tie legislation.
In asking that the draft legislation 60
'ver for the present, Secretary Baker
md General March said that within so
II 90 days, probably about the middle of
august, after the proposed recess of Con-
ress, the administration will submit
ew comprehensive army program, cover
ng not only the number of p,en it is
roposed to raise but also dealing with
hipping and other problems.
Secretary Baker said an enlarged
rogram for the army is planned in
ormal statement made after he had
cen closeted with the committee for
early three hours, with his aides.
II presented to the committee state
lents," said Mr.. Baker, "that for the
resent there are enough men in class
ne sufficient for our prospective needs
nd when the enlarged program of the
nited States is ready for presentation
, Congress, we will at the came time
ave complete data on which to base any
for change in the age
mits of the draft