The Washington times., 1916-05-06
ADJUSTING THE ARMY DIFFER
ENCES

The deadlock in conference which |
is delaying passage Of the army bill
points a curious state Of affairs with
relation to the army proposition.
It is based upon the fears Of the |
advocates Of a Federalized militia
that the volunteer army provision Of
the Senate will eliminate the Ma
tional Guard as defensive factor.
Military experts have been point
ing out for many years that It will
be necessary I'd have half million
men in the first line Of defense in
case Of war and half million more
in reserve. This means trained men.
The army of the United States,
under the House bill, would consist
of about 10000 officers and men.
The most liberal estimate of the Ma
tional Guard at present is 10000.
The army consists Of trained men.
Fully 80 per cent Of the National
Guard now existing would require
six months to place them in condi-
ton even to assist the army. The
other 80 per cent might be consid-
cred trained by person who was
inclined to be more than fair to the
guard.
The regular army and the Ma
tional Guard would not, under the
Hay bill, amount to more than 300,-
900, leaving the first line 100000
under the number essential to take
the field at the order to march.
Where are the second and third
lines of half million each?
The Chamberlain bill, from the
Senate, provides a regular army Of
approximately 100000. 1t also pro-
vides volunteer army, to be raised
at the discretion of the President as
to time, to be trained as regulars are
trained. This volunteer army is to
consist Of an average Of 600 officers
and men for each Congressional dis
trict. This would give a force Of
261 900 if the force were filled to its
maximum. Provision is made, how
ever, that it shall not exceed the
, regular army. However, such a vol
unteer force. organized and trained,
, would give the needed half million
for the first line because there Is
no limit placed on the time when it
shall be held in training. It enhsts
, for six years, three years in active
, service and three years as a reserve.
The President may, under the bill,
? organize this army and keep it in the
: field throughout the three years OF
, service with the colors. Or he might
= organize it and keep it in the field
D for the year experts say it is neces.
r sary for training.
That is exactly where the Senate
volunteer army provision overcomes
the objections to the continental
: army scheme. The Senate provide,
Il for the LIBERALIZATION of the Ma
tional Guard in almost the same
terms as does the House bill, with
: pay for captains, first and secont
: lieutenants even higher than tha'
provided in the Hay bill.
= Neither bill prescribes more thar
l. forty-eight assemblies or drills To-
National Guard organizations pc
= year, with fifteen or twenty day
o extra of field training and outdoo
: target practice. Every expert agree
J. that this will not train troops TO
e the first line. If the militia organi
IL cations are to get such training a
IS will qualify them for the first o
% second lines, there must be NOR
" training than the legislation o
either house calls for.
It would seem possible to compro
mise by providing that such regi
w ments of the National Guard a
- could qualify, could become reg
"a ments Of the volunteer army. Ths
\ would Federalize, by making res
" volunteers of that portion Of tn
"a militia which was entitled to Fec
q eralization; and would eliminate this
~ part which is not and never will b
entitled to liberalization, but whic
~ becomes automatically Federalize
10 under both bills as they now exist.
es This would provide for exactl
o. what National Guardsmen Of amb
hit tion claim they want. And at I'll
Dis same time it would leave the Nj
nd tional Guard in the same status as
he State force. The States could 9
ahead without Federal interferen'
nd and do all the things they wanted
o. do with their National Guard. The
Id would be no occasion for confiictir
81 authority because the State trool
ly and Federal troops wouldn't mix ,
re such.
he The appearance and example
of such regiments of the Nation
a Guard as qualified as volunteer arm
| x.,o,,lI h. NJ, .-a-:v