The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-05
SENATE ASKED FOR
17S,oo0 U. S. TROOPS
Army Bill Provides 100000
Regulars as Immediate
War Strength.

WASHINGTON. March 4.-Senator
Chamberlain. chairman Of the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs. submitted
TO the Senate. to-day the bill providing
for An increase Of the army. II Ii the
work OF the chairman and members CT
the Military Committee and represents
two months of hard work. The bill ID dc
scribed In a memorandum accompanying
1t as the most comprehensive measure
In the way OF preparedness ever pre-
sented to either house Of Congress-
The army Of the United States As
provided In the bill shall comprise the
regular army. volunteer army officers
reserve corps. reserve ohiccrs' training
CORPS, National Guard while In the SER
vice OF the United States and such other
forces az Congress may from time to
time authorize" This organisation is
intended az a substitute for the contl-
mental army recommended By ex-Secre-
tary Of War Garrison.
The Chamberlain bill was introduced
and Immediately reported back at the
request of It's author TO the Military AZ
fairs Committee. Explaining the pro
visions Of the bill Senator Chamberlain
~ Infantry Regiments.
The essential features comprise Q SUI
.clent increase Of the regular army 10
enable the mobile force to be organised
in divisions and brigades and to have
a sufficient corps Of coast artillery to
man existing and approved new bat
,eries. The now mobile army Will COM
prise s.xty-four regiments OF nfantry
organized !iAo seven divisions. twenty
nye egirlent OF cavalry organized int
two divisions and remaining reGi-
ments attached to infantry divisions.
t~wen,y-onc regiments of field artillery
and seven regiments Of engineers. This
will give proper garrisons to
Hawaii and the Philippines and pro-
vide four infantry and two cavair divi-
siurs within the United states. where
It is intended TO train large numbers
O. men during short enlistments for the
reserves, the new enlistment contracts 10
provide FOR that feature.
The personnel Of stan departments
and corps is increased TO provide "a
balan need organisation OF the divisions
and br.gades and to furnish the Officers
and men required for the supply and
important administrative duties.
"ln addition 10 the reorganization OF
the regular army provision IL made for
The organization 81 volunteer forces in
each Congressional district. More lib
eral appropriation for tho National
Guard and other features intended to
build up that force are included. The
volunteer force authorized will he a
strictly Federal force and will not he
under the control Of Governors In any
way.
"I'rovision is made for an officers re-
serve corps and for a reserve officers
training corps. intended to embrace stu
dents AT colleges and other institutions OF
learning where military instruction Is a
part Of the curriculum.
short Enlistnept . Feature.
"a short enlistment Is provided 20
induce men of the resular n 10 enter
the reserve. ana a payment OF va per
annum vii! be made go as TO insure
their connection with the War Depart
ment authorities. To these enlisted men
~ the regular army who remain six
years with the colors. among whom are
found those best qualified for the posi-
t!ug. OF non-commissioned Officers. an
opportunity to enter the civil service
under the War Department Is provided.
For the Younger enlisted men there will
h. provided an opportunity 10 enter the
United states Military Academy as
cadets. Enlisted men between Is and
- years Of age ma be appointed at the
rate of on. 10 each regimen; and the
! corps OF cadets is increased to provid,
for this.
THE expansive principle of organiza'
tion If the army is continued. but the
minimum strength OF organizations 10
! not ~ low a = at present, no %organixa.
ton being required to absorb more
than one-third OF Its war strength OF
reservists or recruits In event OF war
This gives II peace strength in the regu'
lar army OF $4,000 men and IA wal
strength of about 100000. which. witt
the Federal volunteers and Sationa'
Guard, should eventually provide a muct
better state of defence than ut present
Summer camps Of instruction will b.
provided for those who do not hnd 4
convenient 10 attach themselves to an.
OF the forces authorized permanently"