The sun., 1916-12-20
SEC'Y BAKER FOR
FORCED TRAINING
Relieves Some Service to COun.
try Is Due From Every
Man.
ARMY IS SHORT 10000
Gen. Scott Says Guard Needs
Preparation to Meet
Trained Troops.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The agitation
for some form Of compulsory military
service in the United States received
qualified support from Secretary Baker
to-day before the House Military Com
nittee. encouraging opponents Of the
present volunteer system to predict that
legislation for a change might be framed
which would be sanctioned by Mr..
Baker and possibly by President Will
ssn. The President has said he would
aot attempt to reach a decision on the
subject until a definite plan was placed
before him..
Replying to a direct question as to his
views on compulsory military service,
Secretary Baker said: THE obiiga-
ton to serve the country Is a universal
one. The question Of how to bring about
PREPARATION for national defence Is one
Of policy rather than theory. Whether
universal military service or a selectivs
oonscription 10 the correct answer I do
not know. The theory Of a common in
terest In a common country would be
satisfied by a method Of selecting SOL
diers that was not voluntary In char
acter."
Nat. Guard Should Have Chance.
The Secretary told the committee,
however. hat since Congress had re-
jected the continental army plan in ia
vor OF the National Guard system he
believed the guard should be given a
fair trial. 1t 10 known. however. tina he
has been studying the question Of the
proper basis Of the military service since
the recommendations Of the General
Staf for universal service legislation
were submitted. 1t is understood the
plan under consideration contemplates
the making Of an inventory Of men in
the country. as Is being don with in
dus,rial resources, and devising a means
whereby every citizen would be made
liable in a war emergency for the charac-
ter Of work for which he Is best fitted
by his peace time training.
MaJor-Gen. Hugh l.. Scott. chief OF
stan, was again before the Senate SUBJ
committee to-day. urging universal SER
vice legislation. and submitting the re-
port on the mobilization OF the National
Guard for border duty compiled by Col.
W. c. Brown. The conclusion Of the
general stan. Gen. Scott said, that no
adequate defense could be built up under
the present volunteer system was fully
substantiated by the report of depart
mental commanders. inspectors. instruc-
tors and others, which disclosed vital and
inherent faults In the National Guard
system which could not be passed over.
Tells Of Mexican H~ardships.
Col. Brown. who commanded the
Tanth CaValrv ,trAar Dnn I~-.hl,. .ul
led the detachment which dealt the most
severe punishment TO the Villa bandits.
vas before the committee himself and
told OF the hardships the troops In Mex
leo encountered. OF the forced marches
and terrific pace set, adding that only
thoroughly trained men and animals
could have stood the strain.
The mobilization report shows that
Of l2s.000 enlisted men OF the militia
inspected or the border S1.l79, or SO
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 M
toral Guard or the organized militia
slement on the rolls OF the or%ganizatlon
In question at the date of call. OF those
who were on the rolls at the time of the
call +7,657 were lost for various causes
OF the number 1888 failed to respond ia
the call at all. and 23.72l were rejected
for physical disability"
As to the training OF the force before
II reached the border. the report says, 50
per cent. or sl.2S3 men. had had less
than three months military training OF
any kind and more than $4,000 none al
all. Turning to tho Workmanship OF
the State troops tho report shows that
b6.sl3 never had fired a military rife a,
all anA sk.s kun q A nnn -sL-.- ~
Received rating Of less than first class a,
the targets.
RecrsiNnE Falls short.
An active campaign for militia re.
cruits carried on all over the United
States during a period OF four months
J,ny l 10 October 81, continues the re.
port. produced about 5000. a number
insufficient TO al vacancies caused BY
discharge and casualties occurring dur
ing the same period. Gen. Scott said
that despite an almost house to house
canvass to get recruits the regular army
eth Is short about $4,000 men OF tho
peace requirements under the new law.
The National Guard force on the Mex
lean border would have required nearl,
a year OF intensive training to prepare 1
TO meet trained troops, Major-Gen. Scot
SAID.
do you think this mobilization wal
beneficial for our country" asked Sen
ator Brady.
Il do" answered Gen. Scott. ut wa,
very beneficial. II prevented an attacl
and gave protection 10 American live
and property on the border for the frs
time In five years"
Gen. Scott disagreed with Gen. Wood
statement yesterday that six months In
tensive training would prepare soldier
Tor passage into a Federal reserve. TIL,
General stan believed. he SAID. n year q
intensive training to be the absolute
minimum.
- Inch Guns Best.
Before the House Naval Commute
capt. William S. Sims. commander O
the battleship Nevada. asserted hi
opinion that IA inch guns were superio
10 the l6 inch weapons, with which ne,
American battle craft will be armed h
believed a ship equipped with ~ inc
guns would defeat a ship equipped wit
an equal number OF 10 inch gum
properly handled.
Capt. Sims showed q series OF har
OF the Jutland battle. He pointed ON
the part played by battle cruisers In tina
action and Insisted that because Euro
pean navies are equipped with these vet
sells the United States also must hav
them. He said that ship for ship tn
American navy will be destroyed, Amer
lean commerce swept from the seas an
the Panama Canal wrcs'ed from Amer
lean control II the American navy. viii
nut n sufficient number OF bait
cruisers. ever undertakes 10 20 INTO ba
tie with an enemy feet fully equippe
At,l all,. - III. luna