The Washington herald., 1915-12-27
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The Herald's Army and Navy Department
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tualIy forced To- cu into a compulsory
system and has nothing like TIA" ene'-
tive force uf trained soldiers in the i"ld
that France. has TmrTc j. 10 doubt that
Engllnd's experience mas proved that the
volunteer stem iS a failure Every
member Of the military committees real
, ICES this but for political reasons they
are stampoded when compulsory service
| Is mentioned.
At tn" same tim" the Secretary OF war
will probably express himself at least
in an arad"mi" WAY in favor Of universal
military scrvT-'.
Whil- the officials Of aH Of tn" ma
tonal defense examinations belicv" in
some form of conn Jlsury military service
only one has taken any official acton
on IL, subject. The Army i~a-Ue Is
the nrSt 1" I",.larc for this r:n'Ip!".
After considerable discussion ut several
meetings tho executive council d"CiaT'g
for the principle of universal military
training ~ patriotic duty ot every
citizen" The league furthermore urged
ur.on Congress to "oN"rris, its cunstitu-
tiunal power /" provide for such Uain-
in." rp"u tn, general lin" of the SWISS
system.
Under tine Army Leagues plan tn"
regular army would consist Of 4
fore. thi' IS sufficient to defend our
overSea possessions and TO train the
citizen soldiers. II advocates a SUM
cient number Of extra commissioned rd
officers for educational purposes. The
difference between tn" lcaEu.S plan
and the recommendation Of III" Se'-
rrtarv of War is that the ,It.z"n
should take all of his training IN one
term of twelve months actual service
and with tn, colOrs Ii also provides
that this training can he taken either
with the National Guard or in private
schools under regulations provided for
by the War Department In tn" Sec
! ond and third year Of training tn"
citizen is only required to tax" two
! weeks with the colOrS with tn" or
ganizatIonS to which they w"T" duly
assigned during the first period or
their service. After that they are
not called out excepting in tn" event
of war.
Gen. Robert shaw oliver. former
Assistant Secrctary Of War. and prrSi-
dent of the Army League. in outlining
/ the scheme of the lea que. gave out the
following statement.
The Army i.ca-uc Of tn" Hited
States has decided that universal mil!-
tary training of mon from l> to = wears
! old Is tn. only true solution Of the ques-
tion as TO the method "f raiStn- force
Of citizen soldiers other than the or
ganiZrd militia. Thr executive council
has passed a resolution cmhodyinE this
policy. and recommending a general plan
/ which avoids the demand FOR large
standing army and diSpOScS Of the buCa-
hoo of militariSm in 4 mOdorHt" and Tra-
| sonablc increase Of the T"-Llar army
The plan is generally conservative and
In line with the various recommendations
both of the Secretary VI War and the
! General staff Tho method al obtaining
the necessary men for the ritiZcn army
constitutes the principal difference and
this question is believed to he funda'
mental.
~ careful study Of expert opinion
would appear to require. for the defense
| of our overseas possessions regular
army of at least N.t'D men. Such a
force when divided between thc Panama
! Canal Zone Alasku. the Philippines, Ha-
| vaiian Islands. Porto Rico and ethcI
navy bases. could hardly hc cnDsidercd
! excessive even by the extreme little
arm men.
THE regular army t home would con,
sist of the Coast Nrtillery Of one relief
/ and the mobile force ii. e. cavalry, artil
/ lerv, infantry and special troops skeIe,
| tonized to train the citizen soldiers and
| for that purpose distributed in n mum.
| ber of division districts. Every branct
| of the mobile army constituting q divis
| ion would be included in each of these
| units. About 100 regulars would be in,
! cIuded in each district. y complete divis.
| ion would be built Up in thIe" years
| by enIisting each year about 1.onJ younE
men IS years old in each district. Twenty
five divisional districts would then supply
| a force of $4,000.
For the last three years OF the SIX
year enlistments these troops would pass
into the reserve. subject to call by the