The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
Bills Provide Bigger Army.

Seven bills designed TO put into force
the recommendations contained in the
annual report of Secretary of War Gar
rison, with respect to the maintenance
of a larger and more efficient military
system, have been introduced in the
Senate by George Z. Chamberlain, OF
Oregon.
serve corps, appointment Of 1000 addI-
tional officers for the regular army, Gre
alton Of an army transportation reserve
corps, an increase in the number Of OFF,
GERS in the Signal Corps OF the army.
creation of a Federal reserve of officers,
enlargement OF the Coast Artillery Corps
of the army, and provision for the better
care and protection of property fur
nished by the War Department for the
use of the organized militia-are features
of these proposed measures.
One of the bills provides for a regular
army reserve, to be composed Of enlisted
men of the regular army transferred
thereto, and Of men who have been en-
listed therein after having completed
honorably twelve months OF continuous
service in the army, navy, or Marine
Corps, and who, at the date of enlist
ment, are not more than forty-five years
old. It stipulates that regular army en-
listments in the future shall be for six
years-three years with the colors and
three years in the army reserve. Enlist
mentS in the reserve would be for three
years Provision is made for the mobili-
zatiOn of the reserve corps in case OF
need at the order of the President. the
mobilization being assisted by the Post
office Department. which would under
faLra ha V-Ork of T1nfifN-i0r- enlisted men
of their required services.
One measure repeals the limit of 100 900
men placed upon the standing army and
provides for the appointment OF the fol-
lowing addltiona. officers: Twenty-four
colonels. IS lieutenant colonels, 100 ma
jors, 496 captains. go first lieutenants,
and 50 second neutenants. These officers
would be distributed among the Corps
OF Engineers. Cavalry, Field Artillery,
Coast Artillery Corps, and Infantry.
The proposed army transportation re-
serve corps would be composed OF yolun-
teer chauffeurs and machinists, who could
be ordered at any time by the President
to serve on active duty with the regular
army Mechanically propelled vehicles
would be placed at their disposal for
necessary practice.
One bill provides that the Signal Corps
shall be enlarged by the appointment OF
the following additional on1cers' Ohe
colonel four majors, fifteen captains, and
nine first heutenants.
Another of Senator Chamberlain $
measures provides for the commissioning
by the President of officers for the off,
GERS reserve corps, the rank conferred
not to be higher than that of colonel. In
event of actual or threatened hostilities,
the President would be empowered to
order these officers to active duty in the
regular army.
One bill provides for the appointment
of the following additional officers for
service in the Coast Artillery Corps:
Twelve colonels, Il lieutenant colonels,
20 majors, ia captains, 1s7 first lieuten-
ants, and 1S7 second lieutenants. One
fifth Of the vacancies thereby created in
each grade would be filled in each fiscal
year until the total number of vacancies
in each grade was adequately provided
for.