The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-29
PROVIDES CHANGES IN
THE NATIONAL GUARD
FEDERALIZED MILITIA, WITH
SPECIAL RESERVE, TO FORM
THE BASIS OF ADDITIONS


Washington, Feb. 26.-The house mil
itary committee agreed today upon the
general terms of bill it expects to get
before the house in ten days providing
for a regular army with an authorized
peace strength OF $4,000 men; fed
eralized National Guard which would
reach fixed minimum strength of 49,
900 in four years; adequate reserve sys-
TENS for both of these forces, and or
ganization of civilian training camps
with wide discretion reposed in the war
department, as to the terms of enlist
ment, training and government.
Members of both the house and SEN
ate military committees frankly admit
ted today that they had doubts whether
requisite force could be enlisted in the
National Guard, even under the propoS-
ed federal pay and regulation provisions
and growing tendency to provide for
a federal army reserve in addition to the
regular army and federated National
Guard was manifest in both commit
tees. Members said they favored prac-
teal test of the possibility OF forming
federal volunteer army in peace times
on lines somewhat similar to the con-
tinental army plan. The apparent in
tention to abandon the continental pro-
ject wholly was one of the causes lead
ing up to the resignation of Secretary
Garrison.
THE SENATE PLAN.
The senate committee has agreed ten
tatively to plan under which training
camps would be authorized in every con-
gressional district where sufficient men
volunteered for training under an obi
CATION for war service. The maximum
force to be thus raised in any district
would be a battalion or substantially the
same number as proposed for the first
wear of the Garrison continental army
plan. The camps would be under COM
lnand of full completements of regular
n1and of full completements of regular
This tentative plan is in addition to
the regular army and the federallzed
National Guard proposals and is intend
ed to reach men who would not be
found in either of these services.
Representative Kahn, who has advo-
Gated an extension of the camp training
to men who would not enlist in the reg
ulars or National Guard, said today that
with 10000 men already enrolled for
intensive military training this summer,
without government aid, he had recelv-
ed assurances that fully 100000 would
be available next year under his plan.
The house committee arrived at its
regular army figures today as a COM
promise after suggestions Of peace
strength of 10000, 10000 and 10000
had been voted down by narrow mar
gins.
THE REGULAR ARMY.
A non-partisan vote finally fixed upon
137.ooo, or 1000 more than recommend
ed bv the war department, with a pro-
vision designed to allow percentage
Of overenlistrnent in order to MAINTAIN
that strength at all times. With this
provision the total strength authorized
would be sufficient to provide officers
to carry out work of Instructions at
schools, among militia regiments and
for other special duties. One thousand
additional men in the commissioned per-
sonnel was agreed upon as against an
increase Of 786 proposed by the war de-
partrnent.
The increase over the department
6oures would be in field and coast ar
tillery, the former being doubled over
its present strength. A total of II regl-
.ments or 1o8 batteries is contemplated.
The coast artillery would be increased
70 noint where the regulars to man