Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-20

80 S''''''' i"i @'ih" Iofffl OF compulsory
military s"rvic" in the United S,at.s
received qualified support from S"cre-
'Hrv Ra k"r to-day before the Hous.
Military Committee. encouraging on
non"ntS of III. present volunteer svs-
Tom TO predict that LEGISLATION for "A
'hhhS" might IL" framed which would
he sanctioned by Mr. Baker and pos
Sibly by President Wilson. The Prcsi-
dent has said he would not attompt to
r"h"h n decision on the subject until
" definite plan was placed before him
OBLIGATION TO SERVE
COUNTRY Is UNIVERSAL.
Rcriying to ii direct question as to
ms views on compulsory military SER
vice. Secretary Baker said:
The obligation 10 serve tho country
is universe one. The question OF
how /" bring about preparation for
national d"fcns" is one of policy rather
than theory. Whether universal MILL
tary service or a s"lective conscrin-
tion Is IN" correct answer. do not
know. The theory of common in
t"r"st in common country would be
satisfied by method "f selecting sol
diers that was not voluntary in char
actcr.
The secretary told tho committee
however. that since Congress had re-
1ccted IN. continental army plan In
favor Of the National Guard system he
believed tn" guard should be given n
fair trial. He did not amplify his sug-
Ecstion in regard to :hc S"lectivc con-
scripti"n. but il is understood the plan
under consideration contemplates the
making Of an inventory of men. as is
being done with industrial resources.
and dcvisinC "a means whereby every
"itiz"n would be mad. liable in war
"mcrron" for ,hc character of work
for which he is best fitted by his peace
time training.
In the near futur" Mr. Baker will
appear before the Senate subcommittee
which is hearing the opinions Of army
officials and others on the Chamber
lain universal training bill
Ma ajor-Gencral Scott, chief of staff.
was again before tho subcommittee
to-day, urging universal service lcgis-
lation and submitting the report on tho
mobilization OF the National Guard for
border duty compiled by Colonel W. c.
Brown from all Information available
at the War Department
NO ADEaUATE DEFENSE
WITH PRESENT SYSTEM
The conclusion of the general staff,
General Scott said. that no adequate
defense could be built up under tho
present volunteer system. was fully
substa inflated by the reports of depart
mental commanders. inspect -ins.ruc-
tors and others. included in Colonel
Browns compilation.
Colonel Brown. who commanded tho
Tenth Cavalry under General Pcrshing
Il
the most severe punishment TO th>
Villa bandits. was before the commit
tee himself and told Of the hardships
TIA" troops in Mexico encountered, Of
the forced marches and terrific pace
set. adding that only thoroughly
trained men and animals could have
stood the strain.
The mobilization reports show that
Of i2S 600 enlisted men Of the militia
inspected on the border. Sl.l7a. or G3
per cent. were either transferred from,
militia organizations not called out or
were new recruits. leaving only 81 per
cent OF the force representing the Ma
tional Guard or the organized militia
element OH the rolls Of the orGaniZa-
tions in question at the date OF call
''Of those who We're on tho rolls al
the time Of the call. according to the
report. 41.iji We're lost for various
causes during the period of transition
into the Federal service. making the
National Guard as il went to the bor-
der substantially Il volunteer force
OF the number lost. 7,25S failed 10
respond to he call at al, and 2372l
were rejected for physical disability.
THOUSANDS HAD NO
MILITARY
The report says GO per cent of 81. .2GS
men had had less than three months
military training of any kind, and
they reached the border. The report
shows that 56.SI3 never had fired n
military rife at all. and that more than
l4.ooo others had received rating of
less than FIRST class at the targets.
Secretary Baker was warm i'm his
praise OF the enlisted regulars. and
had approved suggestion that their
pay he raised to So5 month. He
was enthusiastic over the summer
training camp plan.
Il believe" he said that if the
United States were in major cmer-
gcncy % per cent of those who at
tended the Plattsburg cncampmcn;
would enlist and be OF very great
value to the government. They would
beat the rest OF us to it,"
HAS No QUARREL.
WITH MEN or GUARD
General Scott made il plain that the
general staff had no quarrel with the
officers and men OF the guard. but only
with the system. and argued that it's
defects were inherent I'm any plan that
was based on the inclination Of in
dIvidu:Is toward military training
The National Guard force mobilized
on the Mexican border would have re-
quired nearly year OF intensive train
ing to prepare il to meet ira led troops.
jor Scott declared before the Senate
subcommittee.
"Fortuna.ely, tho Mcxicans were un-
trained troops" he added. "and our
purpose tn protect the border was ac-
comDlished by tho mere presence OF
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