Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-12-21
Senator Blair Lee of Maryland
Who Is Champiooing Fed
eraIizatiOn, Would Question
Scott and Wood,
SEVERAL C0NGRESSMEN
KNOW MORE THAN CHIEFS
Underwood Objects to Uniyer-
sal Military Training and
FayorS a Regular Army Big
Enough to RepeI INVASION

Washington, Dec. 20-sharp con-
troversy in congress over the future
of the national guard in the fedora!
military system, was foreshadowed to-
day at hearings before committees OF
both the house and senate
Maj. Gen. Hugh l.. Scott, chief of
staff of the army. encountered tigor-
Gus cross-eXaminaton by several
members of the house military com
mittee when he touched upon results.
of the mobilization Of the state troops
for border duty as shown in the gen
eral staff report. Conclusions drawn
from the figures to support the con-
tention that the guard system is in
efficient and unreliable were ques-
toned The subcommittee in charge
Of the Chamberlain universal training
bill decided to recall General Scott,
who already has presented the report
on mobilization in fun to that com
mittee, and Maj, Gen. Leonard Wood,
commanding the eastern department.
who described the mobilization as a
tragedy in his direct hearing before
the committee.
hc' """'' ''''''''"'i Nv a.
Both Officers nave been asAeu TO
appear Tor ci"ss-eAaIhIhatIon py 'e"
ator Blalr Lee, "a champion OF 'le ma
tional guard. An eflort yesterday by
the Maryland senator, who is not %
member of the committee, to ques-
ton Col W. c. Brown, one OF lhe OF
r. Il al
ficers who compiled me report re
suited III clash with Chairman
Chamberlain. dhe~7ate,F 7+-'efn'neH
today however TO give senator Lee
every opportunity to BRING out the
facts as to the moblIlzauoh
In preparation for the cross-eAuhl-
inatlon, it Is understood that starr OF
ficers familiar with mobilization VIII
be present and prepared TO submit ihe
original reports from the inspectors
including names Of the organizations
examined. The compiled summary OF.
these reports avoids mention Of any
specific units Of the guard.
Discuss Universal Training.
The house committee did not go
into the question of universal military
service recommended by the general
staff, and Generals Scott and Wood.
The chief of staff had not reached
that norton of his statement at the
close of the days session.
Before the Chamberlain committee,
however. Howard II. Gross of Chicago,
president. ana Edward Harding of
New York city. representing the Uni
versal Military Training league. out
lined their views. They will be fol-
lowed tomorrow by members Of the
Chamber Of Commerce of the United
States. ana later by certain Officers
and enlisted men of the national
guard. all of whom are expected to
support the recommendation of the
general staff for a compulsory service
system.
Senator Underwood of Alabama, in
fected tbe universal service discussion
into a debate in the senate durng the
day asserting that he did not favor
military service in time
of peace.
Wants Standing Army.
"I do believe" he added. that we
should have sufficient standing
army to prevent any nation from land
ing troops on our shores, able to act
as second line Of reserve to a great
navy and defend the country until we
could raise a volunteer army"