Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-29

PASSAGE Of the resolution added to tn,
pessimism at the Capito over the Next
can outlook The legislation is described
as precautionary, but many members fear
it is the fore-runnor of serious trouble.
The Hay resolution provides for the
designation of commands of the national
guard by the President and also au-
thorzes the President to form complete
tactical units by combining various or
sanizations
TEXT OF RESOLUTION.
The resolution reads
Resolved, That whenever in his opinion
an emergency exists which demands the
Use of troops in addition to the regular
army of the United States. the President
be, and he is hereby authorized to draft
into the military service of the United
States. under the provisions Of section III
of the national defense act, approved June
| 3, 1916, so far as the provisions OF said
section may he applicable and not neon
! sistent with the terms thereof, any or all
members of the national guard and of the
organized militia Of the several States,
| territories. and the District of Columbia,
! and any and all members of the national
| guard and organized militia reserves, to
serve for the period of the emergency un-
less sooner discharged.
| That when organizations, the members
| of which are drafted under the provisions
| of this resolution, do not constitute COM
| plete tactical units the President may by
combining such organizations, organize
battalions. regiments brgades. and divi-
slOns, and may appoint officers for such
units from the regular army. from the
members of such organizations, from
those duly qualified and registered pur-
/ suant to section % of the act of Congress,
approved January q, 1913, or members OF
tho officers reserve corps, as provided in
/ section IS Of the national defense act OF
June g. 1916 officers with rank not above
that of colonel to be appointed by the
President alone and all other officers to he
appointed u. the President by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate.
That whenever in time of war or
| public danger two or more officers of
the same grade are on duty in the
! same field, department or command. CT
| organizations thereof, the President
may assign the command Of the forces
of such field, department. or command,
or OF any organization thereof, without
regard to seniority of rank in the same
grade. In the absence of such assign
mont by the President, officers of the
same Grade shall rank and have prece-
dcnce in the following order without re-
| gard to date Of rank or commission
as between officers of different classes
namely;
First, officers Of the regular army ano
officers of the marine corps. detached for
service with the army by order of the
| President; second, officers of forces draft
ed into the military service of the United
States. provided that officers of the
regular army holding commission ir
forces drafted into the service of the
United states shall rank and have prec",
dence under said commissions as IL they
were commissioned in the regular army
but the rank Of officers of the regular
army under their commissions in til,
forces drafted in the forces of the United
States shall not, for the purposes of thi,
article, be held to antedate muster OF
draft into the service of the United
States.
Washington, June ga building pro
gram including four uper-dreadnoughts
and four battle cruisers for the coming
year was agreed upon to-day by the Sen
ate naval subcommittee after n confer
ence with Secretary Daniels and Rear
AdmiralS Taylor and Blue The sub-Com
mittee also decided to recommend an in,
crease of 2o,7eo in the enlisted strength OF
the navy bringing the total up to a, 700
EIGHT CAPITAL SHIPS.
The authorization for eight capita
ships, which was approved as part of 3
five-year construction policy similar to
that drafted by the navy general board
is understood to be acceptable to the ad
minstraton as meeting President vii
sons request for an enlargement of the
building program now carried by tn,
pending naval bill, AS it passed the
House the measure provides for five bat
tie cruisers and no dreadnoughts and con
tans no authorization for a continuing
policy.
COULD RECRUIT NAVY TO 5000
, The personnel increase approved by the
House was only 1l,00o bringing the tota
enlisted strength to &c. 900. In addition tc
providing for "A peace strength of 400 tn,
Senate Subcommittee decided, on the rec
ommendation of secretary Daniels, to in
} sert in the bill a section under which the
, President could recruit the navy up to ST.
600 IN an emergency