Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-12-20
BAKER APPROVES PLAN ID COMPEL
 ARMY SERVICE: President Wilson May Sane tion Such Legislation, It
 Is Predicted.
NATIONAL GUARD
 PROVED FAILURE.
Report of Mobilization for Border Duty DiSclOSeS Defects of System, and Demonstrates Better Method
 Of Defense Needed.

Washington, Dec. 19.--The agita ton for some form of compulsory military service in the United States received unqualified support from Secretary of War Baker, before the house military affairs committee, eil couraging opponents of the presidents volunteer system to predict that legis lation for a change might be framed which would be sanctioned by MT Bryan and by President Wilson him self.
 The president has said he would not attempt to reach a decision on the subject until the definite plan was placed before him.
 Replying to direct questions as 'o his views on compulsory military service, Sedretary Baker said:
 'The obligation to serve the coun try is a universal one. The question of how to bring about preparation for national defense is one of policv rather than theory Whether uni veEsal military service. or olectiyN conscription, is the correct answer I do not know. The theory Of com mon interest in a common countr' w 0ulu Do S6tlISllSu DS N lIStliN't ot " leeting soldiers that was not voiun tary in charadter."
 The secretary told the committee that since congress has rejected tho continental army plan. in favor of the national guard system, he be lieves the guard should be given a fair trial. He did not amplify h;s suggestion in regard to selective con- scription.
 It is understood the rlan under con- sideration contemplates the making of an inventory of men of the coun- try. and devising a means whereby every citizen would be made liable for war emergency service for the character of work for which he is best fitted
 Major General Hugh L. Scott was again a witness before the commit tee today.
 "The conclusion of the general staff," he said, "that no adequate de- fense could be built under the pres ent volunteer system. was fully sub stantiated by the regimental com manders and others included in Colonel Browns compilations, which show the inherent fault of the na- tional guard"
 How Guard System Failed.
 Colonel Brown, who is member of General ,Pershing's staff and who was in charge of the regiment that pene' trated far into Mexico, told of the hardships endountered, adding that only thoroughly trained men and ami mals withstood the strain.
 The reports of the mobilization of the national guard show that of the 1OS,00O enlisted men, S1,179 or 63 per cent were either transferred from militia organizations not called ont or were new recruits, leaving only 57 per cent of the organization "repre- senting the national guard or organ ized militia element on the rolls of the organization in question at the date of the call"
 Of those enrolled at the time of the call. 47,657 were lost for various causes duuring the period of transi- ton into the federal service, making the national guard as it went to the border substantially a volunteer force. Of the number lost, 7,25S failed to respond to the call and 23,- 721 were rejected for physical dis ability.
 As to the training of the force, tht report says 63 per cent or S1,262 men had less than three months mill tary training of any kind, and more than 60.000 none at all.
 Concerning marksmanship, the re port says 56 S15 neve' had fired a military rifle. and more than 14,0O( had received rating of less than first class at target practice.
 Active campaign for military re cruits, carried on in all parts of the United States from July to Octobel 31, produced only 15,Coo, a number insufficient to fill vacancies caused by disdharge and casualties durin% that same period.
 Eva Booth, Salvation Army leader will enter upon her 45th year or