The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-13
Get Together Today on Main
National Defense Bill.
War Footing, $4,000; National
Guards, $4,000.
TOTAL WAR STRENGTH GIG, 600
Vocational Training Provision
Remains in Bill.
Accept Plan, 20 Mil
lion for Nitrate Plants.

Washington, May ia regular
army of 100000 men at peace strength
capable of expansion to 254,000 men
in time of war, was agreed upon to-
day by house and senate conferees on
the army reorganization bill, first of
the big national defense measures.
The report will be submitted to both
branches of congress for ratification
next week.
In the agreement on the regular
army, the senate bill system of organ
ization was retained as a sub for the
house system which would have re-
cruited a maximum army of 100000
men.
The regular line of the army, the
bill now provides, can never get below
10000 and it's maximum strength in
time of peace would be $4,000 Of
ficers and men. In this calculation.
however, there are excluded 5,723
Philippine scouts, 6,409 in the quarter
masters corps, 1920 in the medical
department. 1887 in the signal corps
and $3.50 unassigned recruits. total
of 1850. These added to the regular
line of $4,000 men give a total reg
ular army peace strength of 206,659.
65 Regiments of Infantry.
crease the regular army divisions to
maximum strength without congress
sional action. Under the conference
agreement the regular army would
consist of 65 regiments of infantry, rs
regiments of cavalry, 81 regiments of
field artillery, coast artillery corps
of 10000 officers and men, signal
corps of 1887 men including the avia-
ton section and seven regiments of
engineers. In the aviation section the
number of officers is increased from
60 to 14S, including one colonel, one
lieutenant colonel. eight majors, TWEEN
ty-four captains and ia first heuten-
ants.
The organization plan contemplates
attaining the full peace strength with
in five years as proposed in the orig
inal preparedness plan.
General officers of the line would be
increased by four major generals and
19 brigadier generals. The general
staff of the army would be increased
IRON "a officers to So. The provision
of the bill which would have placed
five officers of the national guard in
the general staff was stricken out but
provision was made for officers of the
national guard to be assigned to vol
unteer citizens camps at government
expense. An effort to give volunteer
citizens in camp pay of enlisted men
while in training camps failed
Vocational Training Accepted.
A provision for vocational training
for men in the regular army regulated
by the secretary of war was left in
the bill and the house proposal for
government operation of nitrate man
ufacturing plants to cost not more
than S20,00G,000, also was accepted
Selection of sites is left to the presi-
dent. The product of the plants
when not needed in war time may be
4 lar r-oc
ulations. Authority for the govern
ment to seize and operate private
plants for manufacture of munitions
of war in time of need is given and
the president is empowered to appoint
a board of five men, two civilians and
three army officers to investigate the
advisa bility of establishment of gov
eminent plants for the manufacture
of munitions. The board would report
before January 1, 1917.
The president is authorized to APP
point board to investigate the mo bill
ization of industries in time of war.
The regular army enlistment is fixed
at seven 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 efficiency
and upon recomm endation of superior
officers.
No Volunteer Reserve.
The volunteer reserve army of 261.-
600 men provided in the senate bill
goes out, leaving the reserve army to
the national guard. which will be fed
eralized, according to provisions of the
house bill. All officers and men of the
guard must take an oath of allegiance
to the United States as we'll 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 a total
of 425.000 men. This reserve force to-
gether with the regular army of 254,-
600 war strength, would produce a
combined defense force of $4,000
men.
Finnl agreement was req ched on the
long disputed measure after a short
session of the conference cornrnittee.
Another meeting will be held Monday
to sign the report
Chairman Chamberlain and Chair
man Hay praised the conference re-
port