Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-22
WILSON'S ARMY PLAN
TOBE INCORPORATED IN
HOUSE DEFENSE BILL
Committee Agrees to Recon-
mend Standing Army of 147,-
600 and Militia of 428,O00.
Hay Bows to President
PROVIDE FOR RESERVES

WASHINGTON. Feb 22.-Chairman
Hay and other members OF the House
Committee on Military Affairs have bowed
to the wishes of President Wilson regard
ing the fighting strength of the army,
The fundamental features of the army
reorganization bill--one of the two major
measures of the national defense pro-
gram--were agreed upon yesterday by the
Committee. The big outstanding feature
of the committees plan Is the fact that it
provides for a total peace strength of
$4,000 men in the standing army and
National Guard combined, with reserve
systems to more than double the force
in war time.
Other big points resulting from the
committees deliberations are n stand
ing army of $4,000 men. the complete
Federalization of the National Guard,
doubling of the number of cadets at West
Point. the construction of a Government
ammunition plant and the creation of n
large army reserve.
The committee will be unanimous in
| recommending the bill for passage and
Chairman Hay has been authorized to
prepare the measure, which is looked
upon as compromise FOR the conti-
mental army plan advocated by eX-Sec-
retary of War Garrison.
The complete liberalization of the Ma
tional Guard will be substituted for the
proposed contnentals, and the White
House was informed during the day that
the committee was unit in supporting
the plan.
WANT MILITARY SCHOOL.
The expense for the whole establish
ment this year is roughly estimated at
S174 100000, exclusive of Panama Canal
defenses, carried in another bill, propo-
sails for additional military schools in all
ian N NTnIS 70
vorably reported by the committee,
with an appropriation of S3,S40,0OO for
this purpose, and whatever may later be
decided upon in carrying out scheme to
foster the fiXation of atmospheric nitro
gen in the United States, giving the
country its own supply of ingredients for
explosives.
To complete the committees compro-
mise with President Wilson on the conti-
mental army, the bill will authorize the
increase of the regular army to the total
peace strength of $4,000 by adding 10
regiments of infantry. 4 regiments of
field artillery, 90 companies of coast ar
tillery 10 companies of engineers and 4
aero squadrons. This is the exact regu-
lar army program mapped out by eX-
Secretary Garrison before the unfavora-
BILE reception of the continental army
scheme led to his resignation.
Under the tentative bill, the regular
army would have an organization capable
of being expanded to 275,OO0 men in war
time, and "a reserve provision will be in
cluded designed to produce annually as, 900
reservists, obligated to return to the colors
under call 1t will provide also for the
creation of 80 cadet companies to be at
tached to regular regiments to be trained
for early entry into an officers reserve
corps.
ARMY MAY BE 100000.
While the House Committee was busy
with this plan, the Senate Military Com
mittee was working On its proposals for
the regular army, framing its measure on
the basis of the Chamberlain bill, which
provides for an army of approximately
100000 men on the basis of the War Col
lege plan OF 1919. 1t is expected the COM
mittee plans to make it's bill authorize
thorough reorganization of the army with
a peace strength OF from 10000 to 200,-
900 men.
The liberalization provisions will ex-
ceed the proposal of the National Guard
Associations tentative bill in many re-
spects, including the maximum strength
authorized,
1t Is proposed to empower the President
TO draft members of the National Guard
into the Federal service in wartime. set
ting at rest any question of conflict of
authority over the troops when they are
needed for purposes Of the nation.