Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-05-18
ARMY OF 100000
TROOPS ON PEACE
FOOTING FAVORED
Military Basis of 100000 Req
ulars Provided In Measure
Agreed Upon BY Con-
gress Conferees.
CLAIM BILL WILL PASS
All Troops to Serve In Reserve
Force = 400, 600 National
Guards Planned For Sec
ond Line Service.
CLAIM BILL WILL PASS

Washington. D. c., May ia e
lar army of 206, 1000 men at peae
strength, capable of expansion to 25A
600 men in time of war, was agreed up
on today by House and Senate con
ferees on the army reorganization bill
hrst of the big national defense meas
ures. The eport will be submitted to
both branches Of congress for ratifica-
ton neXt week.
In the agreement on the regular army
the Senate bill system of organization
was retained as a substitute for he
House system which would have re-
cruited a maximum army Of 140,0 900
men.
$4,000 In Fighting Line.
The regular line of the army, the bill
now provides. a never go below 16O,-
600 and its maximum strength in times
of peace would be It's, 900 officers and
are excluded 5,723, Philippine scouts
6,409, in the quartermaster's corps; T.
290 in the medical department.; 1887 in
the signal corps and $3.50 n ssigned
recruits, q total Of 1850. These add
ed to the regular line of $4,000 men
strength of 206,659. The president is
authorized to increase the regular army
divisions to maximum strength with
out congressional action.
How Army Is Made Up.
Under the conference agreement the
regular army would consist of 6o reg
iments of infantry, 25 regiments Of cav
airy, II regiments of field artillery, a
coast artillery corps OF 10000 officers
including the aviation section and
seven regiments Of engineers. In the
aviation section the number of officers
Is increased from q total of co to 148
including one colonel. one lieutenant
colonel, eight majors, q captains and
ia first l~ieutenants.
The organization plan contemplates
attaining the full peace strength with
in five years as proposed in the orig
nal preparedness plans.
Increase In Commands.
General officers OF the line would be
increased by four major generals and
10 brigadier generals. The general
staff of the army would be increased
from "a officers to SO. The provision
of the Senate bill which would have
placed five officers Of the national
guard in the general staff was stricken
out, but provision was made for Off
GERS of the national guard to be as
signed to various civilian camps at gov
eminent expense.
An efFor. to give volunteer citizens in
the camp the pay of enlisted men while
in training m failed.
Plan 100000 Guards.
The volunteer reserve army of 261,-
900 men provided in the Senate bill
goes out, leaving the reserve army TO
the national guard, which will be e
eralized according to provisions of the
House bin. All officers and men of the
guard must take an oath of allegiance
to the United States as Well as to the
respective states.
The national guard at maximum
strength would be recruited On the
basis of 500 men to each Congressional
district, which would aggregate Il total
of 425,O00 men. This reserve force to-
gether with the regular army Of 254,-
900 war strength would produce a COM
bined defense force of 679, 900 men.
a provision for giving vocational
training for men in the regular army,
regulated by the secretary of war, vas
left in the bill and the House propose,
for governmental operation of nitrate
manufacturing plants, to cost not more
than $4,000, 900, also was accepted. Sc
lection of sites is left to the president.
The products of the plants when not
needed in war time may be sold for
fertilizer under executive regulations.
May Take Over Factories.
Authority for the government to Sc
cure and operate private plants for
manufacture of munitions of wal in
time of need is given II the president
is empowered to appoint a board of
five men, two civilians and three army
officers, to investigate the ACCESSIBILITY
of establishment Of government plants
for their manufacture. The board will
report before January l, 1917.
The president is authorized to APP
point a board to investigate the mobil-
ization of industries in time of war.
The regular enlistment is fixed at sew
en- years-three with the colors, and
four in reserve-but, if enlisted men
master military training in one year
and wish to retire to the reserve, they
may be permitted on proving efficien-
cy and upon recommendation of superb
or officers.
Final agreement was reached on the
long disputed measure, after a shor
session of the conference committee.
Another meeting will be held Monday
to sign the report.
81 hin that we nave an excellent
bill" said Chairman Chamberlain of the
Senate military affairs committee.
Chairman Hay, of the House COM
mittee, also praised the report and ap.
prevail by both houses is expected.