Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1918 — BAKER ASKS NO LIMIT ON MEN SENT TO FRANCE [ARTICLE]

BAKER ASKS NO LIMIT ON MEN SENT TO FRANCE

Would Equip 3.000,000 Troops and Use Them as They Are Needed. APPEARS BEFOREHOBSE BODY War Chief Asks S’<L3CC.OOQJOO to Carry Out Colossal Military Program- —May ■ Amend'■ Draft Act Washington. May X —A oN-vssal military program »'fc> ss&miiied by Secretary of War Baker -•» the hcrs-e committee on military affairs. H-re are the principal features the plaa' 1. Expenditures the array aigregating sl3/**i .«>».« X»*« in the next fiscal year, more than .twice the tecal of thisyear's outlay. . • 2. Manufacture • f arti’lery on a stupendous scale, Utvotving the liumiatßate erection of eporawus.'.plains, the. whole outlay representing several billion dollars. 3. Drafting .of at least UMMBB additional registrants and as many more as can be equipped and transported to France. with the prospects favorable to maintaining an array of3JMMM)OO men in the field next year. He told the committee that it would be ill-advised to restrict the number of men to be utilized and that the sire of the army should be increased in the discretion of the gmvernsnent. as transport ion and equipment ft tries warrant. To Ask Unlimited Power. Secretary Baker indicated he would submit a proposed measure. probably as an amendment to the draft law, to grant the unlitnited authority a-ked. Under the existing draft law, as construed by Chairim.'-. Dent of the military committee and others, there is authority for the use of only LfflWW men under draft. Mr. Dent introduced a bill to authorize a draft total of 4.000,009 men. which, with volunteers already in the service, would make an ultimate possible me Tits um strength of 5,000,000 men. Baker Is Questioned. Secretary ’ Baker was questioned by the committee regarding his views to increasing the draft age. He said he was studying the subject and had made no derision. The house military committee will Immediately resume coessideratioti of the annual army sppepriatfoa bill and Secretary Baker's idea is that it shall provide only for the uimtee immediately foresrem < 3.000.000 Men Planned. Indications are that it will carry provision for equipment. tnasportatioa. pay and other exy-enses of approximately 3XK«.<MO men. as part not of a specific program, but as a furtherance of a blanket authority pt»n involving the use of all or pan of the funds appropriated and supplemental appropriations later on as their need may become apparent. Mr. Dent announced in view «ft the war department's attitude that he was ready to ask the bouse to kill its volunteer credits amnedment to the draft quota resolution. The senate refused to agree to the provision. If the bouse recedes the draft quota resolution will be ready to go to the president for approval