Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-01
BlLLsN PRESENTED LOOKING TO-
INCREASE IN MEN TO BE
Drafted.
SOME ADVOCATE ARMlNG
FORCE OF 5,ooo,0Oo MEN
Delay Of Secretary Baker Comes in
For Severe Criticism and Senate 10
Urged to Take Matter Into Own
Hands and to Issue Orders to War
rtment-Must Face Invasion If
Allies Are Defeated.

Washington, May 1.-CongIess. be
coming FESTIVE over the absence Of an!
definite announcement of program L
increase the army to size proportion.
ate with the emergency presented b.
the German drive, started in to aug.
ment our military forces without wait
ing for the administration.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia Of
fered resolution providing for 5000,
900 men in addition to the existing
army.
Senator Reed of Missouri proposed
one providing for the selection of an
additional 100000, while Washington
Senator PofndeXter's bill suggested
100000 as the proper increase. The
existing army is upward of 1900. 00I
men.
Mr.. Piondexter's figures are the
ones that are expected to prevail.
hU-deominc- es emf emf en-
Baker to Detail Program.
Secretary of War Baker is due To
appear before the military affairs
committee within a day or two and
make the announcement of the army
program, the absence OF which has
caused the congressional inpaticnece
He has been particularly close
mouthed about his prospective recon-
mendations, but the officers about
him are estimating the army that is
to be supplied this year at 100000.
They say that is the maximum that
can be transported and equipped for
service in Franace before 1919, and say
that IL events demand more than
100000 the addition can be author
lied later without any time being
lost and without taking an excessive
number of men from the national in
dustries.
Poindexter Bitter.
Mr. PoindeXter was rather bitter in
his argument.
Il see" he said that the secretary
Of war is holding conferences on in
creases in army strength This is No
time for conference. 1t is a time for
action, and congress should act. The
delay of a day, an hour, may maxi
for defeat, and the issue of liberty and
free government is too vital to hesi-
tate about
The foundation of this proposed in
crease is already in laws that have
been enacted. All that is necessary.
is to call an additional number Of men.
The bill authorized contracts that
may be necessary in carrying out this
work.
There ought not be a day. there
OH hn .loSf Destiny
and opportunity are marching by.
while we are holding conferences. One
year at least is required to train men
for battle. and immediate steps ought
to be taken to provide them"
Must Face Invasion.
Senator Reeds bill would raise the
aggregate of the army to more than
1000 900 men. The Missouri senator
warned the senate in a speech three
months ago that America ought to
raise an army not only for service in
France but against a possible inva-
sion Of this country.
Senator Reed believes the present
selective law will not yield over q.
5ON,0 900 men. This he insists, is Tar
short Of the army America must have
to make her part effective.
Senator France Of Maryland Joined
in the war chorus by speaking for his
bill, which has been slumbering for
some months and which provides for
the registration for war service OF all
men between the ages OF 81 and 45,
the physically fit between II and 80
to go into tn army and the others to
be subject to selection for industrial
war work, according to their capacity
and the needs OF the government.
All Sent to Committee.
All of the bills were referred to the
military affairs committee. They will
be blended with what Secretary Baker
tells the committee, and the new and
greater army will be forthcoming in
the shortest possible time.
The war department people were en-
couraged by today's messages from
Flanders, but the indicated stopping OF
the German drive is not to diminish
the effort to get the greatest possible
number of soldiers to France IN the
shortest possible time.