The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-18
Chief of Staff, Appearing in
Behalf of Senator Cham
berlain's Bill, Declares
That Volunteer System is
Worthless AS Defensive
Force.

Many More Within 80
Days y Cites European
War AS An Example.
Washington, Dec. 18-Mainr
General Hugh L. Scott, Chief OF
Staff of the Army, told the Sen
ate military committee today
that the army general staff,
recommended without apology
the volunteer system be dis
carded because the time has
come when this country, unless
it intends to avoid war at any
cost must resort to universal
liability to military training
and service" -; -.
Arraigning the volunteer sys-
tenn as extravagant, inefficient
and dangerous the chief of staff
told the committee that univer-
sal training would be demo-
cratic, reliable and economic
and would render the United
States immune from attack. +.
Advocates and opponents of sys-
tenn Of universal training for military
service to replace the volunteer sys-
tenn as the mainstay OF the nations
defense, were to be heard by the Sem
ate committee. i{s .4
Representatives of organizations op-
posed to the bill, headed by Walter
L.. Fisher, former secretary of the in
terror, gave their reasons for opposing
universal training.
Mr.. Fisher declared himself in favor
Of adequate preparedness. p.
Maj. Gen. Scott had this to say in
favor Of Senator Chamberlain's plan
for universal military service:
"It would be democratic because
the burden of national defense would
fall equally on the cities. It would
make it impossible for New York
man or group Of men to trade upon
the nations necessities in time of war.
The system would be reliable because
it would produce each year the mum.
Der of men necessary to be trained.
It would be economical because IL
would be based upon recognition by
the people of the duty OF the in
dividuAl to render personal service
and in carrying it into effect the gov
ernment would not have to compete
in the labor market. It would be
efficient because it would enable us to
prepare adequately for war before 1t
comes
At the outset General Scott pointed
out that the Mexican crisis had failed
to recruit many national guard or
ganizations even to their minimum
peace strength.
1.-The failure should make the whole
people realize that the volunteer sys-
tenn does not and probably will not
give us either the men we need in
peace or for service in war;" he said.
Reviewing the intensive training in
which European nations require, he
declared that if American troops ever
were to compete with highly trained
and disciplined forces they would re-
quire training and discipline at least
equal to their of their opponents.
The lessons of the European war,
the general said, had demonstrated
that higher standard of training and
discipline were required than was pop
ularly considered necessary before and
that most of the European nations for
that reason found they could not de-
velop hem in less than two years with
the colors.
''It should be obvious" said he, that
1872 hours training prescribed for the
National Guard is utterly inadequate
to prepare this force for war service"
For war with a first class power, the
general stated. had previously estimate
ed that 100000 fully equipped troops
should be ready at the outbreak and
that 100000 more should be available
in 80 days. In view of the lessons OF
the war, the general staff was now Of
the opinion that these numbers should
be tripled and that 100000 fully
equipped and ready troops should be
available with another 100000 to fol-
low in 80 days.
'"This is due,'' he said, "to the fact
that one Of the powers involved In the
war and whose territory extends the
whole length of our northern frontier,
has increased it's army from a relative
ly small force to strength approxi-
mating that of the other great Euro
pean powers. Due to the fact that our
northern neighbor is largely an island
empire, a great portion Of any trained
force it may possess can be spared for
use in a distant theatre of operations
because, being an island empire, the
control Of the sea gives it practical
from invasion where troops
would have to be transported across
the sea.
"It should be pointed out also that
our northern neighbor is In alliance
with a powerful Oriental nation-an-
other island empire-and for the same
reason when acting in alliance With q
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