Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-05-17
ARMY OF 100000
TROOPS ON PEACE
FOOTING FAVORED
Military Basis of 25O,OOC Req.
uIarS Provided In Measure
Agreed Upon BY Con-
gresS Conferees.
CLAIM BILL WILL PASS
All Troops to Serve In Reserve
Force - 400. 900 National
Guards Planned For Sec
ond Line Service.
CLAIM BILL WILL PASS

Washington. ID. c.. May 15.--A regu-
lar army OF 2O6, 900 men at peace
strength, capable of expansion to 254.-
900 men in time of war. was agreed up
on today by House and Senate con-
ferees on the army reorganization blu.
first of the big national defense meas
ures. The report will be submitted to
both branches OF congress for ratifica-
ton next week.
In the agreement on the regular army
he Senate bill system Of organization
was retained as Il substitute for the
House system which would have re-
cruited a maximum army Of 100000
men.
$4,000 In Fighting Limo.
The regular line of the army. the bill
now provides. can never go below 16O.-
900 n its maximum strength in times
of peace would be 10000 officers and
men. In this calculation however, there
are excluded 1928, Philippine scouts
6,4O9. in the quartermaster's corps; T.
290 in the medical department.: 1887 in
the signal corps and $3.50 unassigned
recruits, a total Of 31.650. These add
ed to the regular line of $4,000 men
give a total regular army peace
authorized to Increase the regular army
divisions to maximum strength with
out congressional action.
How Army Is Made Up.
Under h conference agreement the
regular army would consist OF 65 reg
iments of infantry. % regiments Of cav
airy. 81 regiments Of field artillery. a
coast artillery. corps OF 10000 officers
and men. a signal corps of 1887 men
including h aviation section n
seven regiments of engineers. In the
aviation section the number of officers
is increased from a total of so to 148
including n colonel. n lieutenant
colonel. eight majors, "a captains and
ia first li~eutenants.
The organization plan contemplates
attaining the full peace strength with
IN tive years as proposed in the orig
inal preparedness plans.
Increase In Commands.
General officers Of the line would be
increased by four major generals and
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 vas 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 effort to give volunteer citizens in
the camp the pay of enlisted men while
in training camps failed.
Plan 100000 Guards.
Ihe 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
erallzed according to provisions of the
House bill. All officers and men of the
guard must take an oath of allegiance
to tine 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.-
900 war strength would produce a COM
A provision for giving vocational
training for men in the regular army,
regulated by the secretary Of war, was
left in the bill and the House proposal
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 nay be sold for
fertilizer under executive regulations.
May Take Over Factories.
Authority for the government to Sc
cur 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
1--WE men, two civilians and three army
officers, to investigate the ~advisability
OF establishment of government plants
for their manufacture. The board will
report before January /, 1917.
The president is authorized to APP
point q 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. thev
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 short
session Of h conference committee.
Another meeting will be held Monday
to sign the report.
II think that we have an excellent
BILL" said Chairman Chamberlain Of the
Senate military affairs committee.
Chairman Hay, Of the House COM
mittee. also praised the report and APP
nrnVQ1 nv both h0,1ooo 60 ovnooto1