The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-21
SEARCHING QUESTIONING
 IS ID BE CONCLUDED
Staff Officers Familiar With the Mo- obligation of the National Guard Win Be on Hand Today and Will be Prepared to Sumbit the Original Report of the Inspectors.

Washington, Dee. 20.-Sharp con troversy in congress over the future of the national guard in the federal military system was foreshadowed today at hearings before committees of both the house and senate.
 Major General Hugh l.. Scott, chief of staff of the army, encountered vigorous cross-eXaminatiOn by several members of the house military com mittee when ne touched upon results of the mobilization of the state troops for border duty as shown in the gen eral staff report based on information furnished by regular army inspectors Conclusions drawn from the figures to support the contention that the guard system is inefficient and nnre- liable were promptly questioned and it was indicated that the head of the army would face searching question ing tomorrow when he continues his statement
 The senate subcommittee in charge of the Chamberlain universal train ing bill decided to recall General Scott, who already has presented the report on mobilization in full to the committee, and Major General Leon ard Wood commanding the eastern department, who described the mobil- ization as a tragedy" in his direct hearing before the committee Both officers have been asked to appear for cross-examination by Senator Blair Lee, a champion of the national guard. An effort yesterday by the Maryland senator, who is not a mem ber of the committee, to question Col onel w. C. Brown, one of the officers who compiled the report, resulted in a clash with Chairman Chamberlain. The latter determined today, how ever, to give Senator Lee every op- portunity to bring out the facts as to the mobilization.
 Tn preparation for the cross eX- animation is understood that staff officers familiar with the mohiliza- ton will be present and prepared 10 submit the original reports from the inspectors, including names of the organizations examined. The com piled summary of these reports avoid mention of any specific units of the guard.
 The house committee did not go into the question of universal mili- tary service recommended by the general staff and Generals Scott and Wood. The chief of staff had not reached that portion of his state ment at the close of the days ses- sion.
 Before the Chamberlain committee, however Howard II. Gross of Chi cago. president, and Edward Harding of New York City, representing the Universal Military Training League, outlined their views, They will be questioned tomorrow by members of the chamber of commerce of the United States and later by certain officers and enlisted men of the na' tional guard all of whom are expect ed to support the recommendations of the general staff for a compulsory service system.
 Senator Underwood of Alabama in iected the universal service discus sion into a debate in the senate, as serting that he did not favor com pulsory military service in time of peace.
 q do believe" he added, "that we should have fsufficient standing army to prevent any nation from landing troops on our shores, able to act as second ldne of reserve to a