Evening journal., 1919-01-18
FREEING OF DRAFT
Men NOW ASSURED
House Military Committee
Reaches Agreement With
Secretary of War
GIVE MEN CHANCE
IN VOLUNTEER ARMY

WASHINGTON, Jan. is-Legislation at
this session making possible the dis
charge of selectlve draft men, now in
service with Regular Army units, is
assured by the agreement Of the House
Military Committee with the Secretary
OF War TO enact legislation in the form
Of rider to the army appropriation
bill continuing the present form Of the
military establishment for one year
from June 30 next.
This rider now being drafted by the
General Staff Corps under direction OF
Secretary Baker VIII authorize a re-
sumption Of voluntary enlistments
probably for a nat three year period.
Men procured through this authorize
tion will Immediately be used TO re-
place selective draft men who have
been assigned 10 Regular Army units.
Strong influence will be brought 10
bear on the department 10 have these
men used to replace men in the Amer
ican Expeditionary Forces procured un-
der the draft law, but who wish to re-
turn home and be discharged
There has been no serious quarrel
yet, in Congress with the contention
Of the War Department that II is i'm
practicable now 10 discharge selective
draft men from the regular army units
here and abroad, as obviously with
peace still in the formative stage and
no information as 10 the future mill
tary requirements OF the country some
military establishment will be retained.
There is some disposition TO force the
War Department by system OF trans
fers to place in regular army units men
who express a desire 10 remain in ser
vice and thus release men who desire
discharge, but for the present the re-
ply Of commanding officers OF the
American Expedltionary Force that such
a system would make for confusion,
has been accepted.
That the legislative rider will seek to
curtail the total number Of troops to
be held during the transition period is
taken for granted, As Il will come from
the General Staff the first draft proba-
bly, will call for force Of about 500,-
900, that being the figure proposed for
a permanent establishment in the War
Departments bill, presented to the Mill
tary Committee yesterday
Whether the Military Committee OF
the House will cut this figure Is an
other matter. While the small army
men undoubtedly will make such an
attempt the feeling today seemed to be
that any attempt 10 curtail the force
at the command Of the President prior
70 the final peace adjustment would be
unwise.
Il is understood that many Of the
legislative proposals advocated by the
department and not authorized by the
Overman act will be included IN the
rider, among them probably a provi-
sion for furloughing officers to the re-
serve at their present rank to Include
the grade Of colonel. Under existing
law a reserve offlcer cannot hold higher
rank than major.
The rider also will include provi-
sion for taking into the permanent
military establishment such trained Of
fcers as are found qualified, regardless
Of present rank. Under existing law,
officers from the National Army enter
ing the Regular Army would be requir-
ed 10 sacrifice much OF the rank and
grade worn by them by hard service
during the war.
Provision also VIII be made for recog-
MIXING the thousands Of cases Of on
GERS who were recommended for pro-
motion prior TO the signing Of the ar
mistice and whose chances Of promo
tion were automatically terminated by
the Department when the armistice was
announced.