Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-29
CONTINENTAL ARMY
PLAN MAY YET Be
ACCORDED A TRIAL
Although Defense Bill Makes
No Provision for 1t, Senti-
ment Is Growing to Give the
Plan a Practical Test
(By Associated Press

military committee agreed today upon
the general terms Of a bill it expects To
get before the house in ten days pro-
viding for a regular army with an au-
thorized peace strength OF $4,000 men
federalized national guard which
would reach a fixed minimum strength
OF $4,000 in five years; adequate re-
serve systems for both of these forces:
and organization of civilian training
camps with wide discretion reposed in
the war department as to the terms
Of enlistment, training and government
Members of both the house and sen
ate military committees frankly admit
ted today that they had doubts whether
a requisite force could be enlisted in
the national guard, even under the pro-
posed federal pay and regulation pro-
visions, and a growing tendency to pro-
vide for a federal army reserve in addi-
tion to the regular army and federalized
national guard was manifest in both
committees. Members said they favored
a practical test of the possibility of
forming a federal volunteer army in
peace times on lines somewhat similar
to the continental army plan. The APP
parent intention to abandon entirely the
continental project was one of the
causes leading up to the resignation of
Secretary Garrison.
LOCAL TRAINING CAMPS.
The senate committee has agreed ten
tatively to a plan under which training
camps would be authorized in every con-
gressional district where sufficient men
volunteered for training under an OBJ
legation 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
Inst year of the Garrison continental
army plan. The camps would be under
command of full compliments of reg
ular officers.
This tentative plan is in addition to
the regular army. and the federalized
national guard proposals and is intended
to reach men who would not be found
in either Of those services.
Representative Kahn, who has advo-
Gated an extension of the business men S
camp idea to all classes of citizens who
would not enlist in the regulars or the
national guard, said today that with 3d.
600 men already enrolled for intensive
military training this summer without
government aid, he has received assur-
ances that fully 100000 would be avail
able next year under his plan. Mem
bers of the senate committee are un-
derstood to take a similar view.
ARMY
The house committee arrived at it's
regular army figures today as a COM
promise after suggestions of a peace
strength of 100000. 10000 and $50, 900
had been voted down by narrowing
margins, nOn-partisan vote finally
fixed upon $4,000 or 1000 more than
recommended by the war department,
with a provision to aHow a percentage
of over-enlistment in order to maintain
that strength at all times. With this
provision the total strength authorized
would be 10000. To provide officers
to carry out work of instruction at
schools, among militia regiments and
for other special duties, 1000 additional
men in the commissioner personnel was
agreed upon as' against an increase of
7S6 proposed by the war department.
The increases over the department
figures would be in field and artillery
the former being doubled over it's pres
ent strength. A total of twelve regi-
ments or los batteries Is contemplated.
The coast artillery would be increased
to a point where regulars to man all
mine and torpedo defenses and one-half
the guns in fixed Notifications would
be available with an additional compile
ment to man the proposed mobile guns
to be added.
NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS.
The bill also provides that national
guard officer from each organization
be detailed to attend the regular army
service schools of the proper arms, re-
ceiving the pay of his rank in the reg
ular army while on such duty. 1t con-
templates authorizing the president to
draft the guard into the federal service
at any time he deems best, without
waiting specific authority of congress-
and would remove all restrictions on
use of the force outside the country.
Several members of the house commit
tee are in sympathy with the senate COM
mittee's proposals for the regular army,
which contemplate as tentatively agreed
upon a complete reorganization and a
peace strength of 175,000 men. In the
same way it is said. members of the
senate committee are willing to accept
the Judgment of the house body on the
scheme to federalize the national guard,
insisting only that the placing of the
force under federal authority shall be
accomplished in fact as well as inten-
tion.
FIXATION OF NITROGEN.
The mouse committee will hear army
officers Monday in connection with the
scheme for government cooperation in
establishing plants for the fixation of
atmospheric nitrogen at available water
power sites. The total products OF
these plants would be available for
powder manufacture in war time. A
provision would be inserted in the bill
providing for government aid in the
project as a war measure.
The plan for civilian training camps,
it is stated, will be worked out in con-
nection with the army appropriation
bill to be considered later. The au-
thorization contemplated in the present
measure is designed merely to insure
the parliamentary status of whatever
legislation of that character may be
included in the money bill.
The bill will be given final review
Wednesday and members of the commit
tee. including Chairman Hay, thought
tonight it would be completed and fl
nally voted upon then. 1t will take
several days TO write the comprehensive
report that will accompany it to the
house, but Mr.. Hay expects TO get 1t
TT.