Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-07

special corps and the coast artillery.
The mobile army in continental Onlteu
states would consist of four infantry
5,I-iSions and two divisions of cavalry.
corresponding increases, in the number
of general officers would be made, and
the rank of pay of lieutenant general
would be given to the chief of staff.
ORGANIZATION OF. ARMY
The bill provides for complete reor-
ganization of the army, degaiizing the
organization now in force under depart
mental regulations. The development or
second Iieutenants other than graduates
of the military academy are made pro-
visional for two years before a COM
mission is issued.
Enlistment is fixed at seven years,
four with the colors and three in reserve.
At the end of one year of service eff
cient men may be discharged into the
reserve on recommendation Of their COM
manders and at the end of two years at
their own request if approved. Reserv-
lists would receive a minimum pay of
$24 a year and the president would have
authority to mobilize the reserve in time
of actual or threatened hostilities.
AS an additional inducement for re-
cruits provision is made that men who
have completed six years service in the
army may be examined by board of
officers to determine the civil occupa-
tions for which they are qualified and
they would be eligible to appointment
to civil service positions of that ma
ture without a civil service examina-
ton. The president also would have
power to appoint one man from each
regiment to the Military academy
The reserve officers training corps
would have senior and Junior grades es-
tablished at civil educational institu-
tions where military courses are provid-
ed with an army officer detailed as
instructor. The senior grade units
would be placed at colleges and uni
versities and the junior grade at high
schools.
HOURS REQUIRED.
Five hours a week would be required
in the senior grade and three in the
junior. devoted to military training.
Summer camps for field training of the
cadets would be provided by the gov
eminent.
The regulations under which gradu-
ates would be appointed to the reserve
corps are left to the president. Such
appointees must be at least FL years of
age and must obligate themselves to
serve for ten years. Their maximum is |
fixed at $4,000.
The federal volunteer force is provided
for in general language, leaving the |
-
reserve and the like to. the discretion
of the president. The clause is an
amendment of the volunteer act to per-
init organization of such force in |
peace times as well as war. The only
restriction in numbers is that the force
shall not exceed an average of 500
for each congressional district, or ap- !
proXimately 100000 men in all. Regular |
army pay would be provided for both |
officers and men daring periods of
training.
The plan is the continental army pro-
posal in effect, although the committee
decided to leave to the president the
widest possible latitude so the require
ments of the service could be lifted to
the needs of each section of the country
individually. IT is Believed by trainers
of the bill that this plan will offer the
best means of testing the possibility of
creating an adequate volunteer army in |
peace times, and the committee desired
to enact no regulations which would
hamper the experiment The continental
plan proposed by Secretary Garrison,
committee members thought, was too
definite in many respects.
ASSOCIATIONS PLAN.
For liberalization OF the national
guard the bill adopts with numerous
notifications the plan proposed by thel
National Guard association. The rate
of pay for officers, however, was set
at $500 a year for all of the rank of
captain or above. $500 for first lieuten-
ants and certain specified staff officers,
and $3.50 for second lieutenants. The
association plan proposed higher pay for
general officers
Enlisted men would receive pay on the
basis of one-fourth of the regular army
pay, and would contract on enlistment
to serve the United States in time of
war. The enlistment period is fixed at
six years, three with the colors and
three in reserve, and organization of the
regular army is prescribed. Provision
is made Also for examination of all Off
GERS appointed by state authorities and
for the inclusion of officers of the ma
tional guard in the personnel of the
militia division of the war department.
The national guard provisions of the
bill probably will be substituted by the
house provisions, when the two bills
reach conference. The senate commit
tee gave particular attention to the reg
ular army featurs, while the house made
the federation project its main object
Since the same general outline is fol-
In, F,Al. he ,.,f11