West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-10-21
AN ARMY OF C|TRENSIS
PROPOSED BY GOVERNMENT
Employers Throughout the United
States arc to be Asked that Per-
mission be Given their Employees
to Engage in Two Months Active
Military Training Each Year

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16.-Employers
throughout the United States-corpor-
auons. manufacturers, professional
men, radesmen and business men of
all classes--aro TO DO asked to con-
tribute as their share I'm the national
defense, permission for their employ
ees to engage without serious finan-
cial loss in two months military train
ing during each OF three years.
| This liz an essential part OF the a5f<
ministration's plan for raising n citf-
zen army of 100000 men In six wears
which, with regular army OF 100000
men and 100000 reserves, would give
trained force exclusive OF state mil
itia of about 100000 men In the
event of war.
The success of the plan, officials
admit, depends not on the appropria-
tions of Congress, for it's cost will bo
comparatively small. but on the pa
triotic responss OF employers to
whom an appeal will be made TO fur
Tough as many men each year, at diff
fercnt seasons as they can spare and
who wish TO join the proposed CONT
mental army.
Administration officials are conf
dent that even though IL is proposed
to enlist only $4,000 men a year I'm
tho continentals, or n total OF nearly
100000 In the six years period, more
than that number would be attracted
by tho outdoor life OF military camp
III they could be assured by their en-
ployers that their positions would not
be lost or their earnings seriously de-
creased. The proposed enlistment re-
quires two months service for each
of three years and liability for SER
vice during tho remaining three years
only In event OF war.
The army plans for more than l.
100000 trained men I'm six years and
the navy's program OF ten dread
naughts and six battle cruisers with
in five years, both of which will be
presented to Congress with the en-
dorsement OF President Wilson, were
the absorbing topics OF interest here
today. The proposed army appro-
priation bill will be 1882 900 900 or an
increase of $72,00O,000 over last year
and that OF the navy is 216.OO0,0O0 or
an increase of $6S.0O0,O00. The total
defense budget OF nearly $400. 1000, 900
Is an increase of 10000. 900 which, It
is understood Is to be released by n
bond issue and increased revenues ex-
pected from return to certain tariff
duties removed last year.
Added details OF the navy plans be-
came known tonight. The five year
program includes besides tho ten
dreadnaughts and six battle cruisers,
80 coast submarines, 10 sea-going sub
marines, 30 destroyers, 10 scout cruis-
ers and five gunboats. Two dread
naughts will be built each year. Two
battle cruisers will be built the first
year, one the third year, two the
fourth year and one the fifth year.
BY authorizing sixteen capital ships
In the five year program, the Ameri-
can feet when all ships are completed
will be composed in 1925 OF 33 dread
naughts and battle cruisers, for the
lighting line, and thirteen battleships
of the second line. or total of 46
capital cruisers. This would be ex-
elusive of nine battleships now in
commission which will be superan-
uuated in 1924.