The Washington herald., 1916-04-24
By E, b. JOHNS.

As soon as the bill now pending in con-
ference Troviding for the reorganization
of the regular army is disposed Of Chair
man Chamberlain will take up his bin
for an Americanized Swiss system. He
may conduct hearings upon IT; at least
he will endeavor TO secure favorable re-
port on the bill from the Senate Commit
tee on Military Affairs.
When Senator Chamberlain introduced
his bill to establish this system at the
oDening OF the session he did it simply
for the purpose of calling the attention OF
the country to the policy by which Swift
zerland solves the problem OF national
defense. He was OF the opinion that II
would require long campaign of educa-
tion to convince the American people
that this country should adopt either the
Australian or Swiss system TO secure an
adequate force Of trained citizen soldiers.
But the sentiment of the country has
been making such rapid progress in this
direction that Senator Chamberlain is
now convinced that it is ready for some
legislation which will give IT some such
policy. The people are beginning TO rec
Ognize the educational value of universal
military training and the European wal
is calling attention to the weakness ot
the volunteer system of England, after
which the military policy Of this country
is fashioned.
The bill which passed the Senate the
other day, in the opinion of Chairman
Chamberlain. gives the country only a
force of first line troops or an adequate
regular army, but does not provide g
system for the training of citizen soldiers
which would be depended upon to win
in a great war.
Last session. when Chairman Chamber
lain asked the Secretary of War to sub
NIT the recommendations of the General
Stan as a basis upon which Congress
should legislate, he was preaching in
the wilderness. 4 comparatively few
members of Congress knew that there
was such a thing as General STAFF and
fewer of them had considered its recon-
mendations seriously.
1t is true that the European war called
the attention of the country to the i'm
portance of a General Stan, but it re-
manned for Chairman Chamberlain to
make a fight all along the line for a
recognition of this organization in army
legislation. The Senator in order to hold
his forces together was compelled to ac-
cept numerous amendments which did
not have his or the General Staff's ap-
proval but the bill as passed by the
Senate is the first measure that has ever
been shaped on general lines of a policy
prepared by the General Staff.
As important as the increases carried
by the bill is the recognition of the
principle that military legislation should
be prepared by a general stan. Carrying
out this idea the Senate bill increases
the strength of the General Staff and
gives the Chief of Staff during his tour
of duty with the General stan the rank
of lieutenant general. 1t also provides
that he shall not be detailed to serve
on any boards of the General Stah. The
Chief Of Stan is to have three assistants,
one of whom is to the president Of the
War College and another chief Of the
Division of Militia Affairs. While the
other increases in the General Stan dc
not give the army as large an orgsniza-
| ton as the armies of the European pow
ers, it is a long step in the right direc-
ton.
I Although he took very little part in
! the debate during the consideration Of
the army BILL no member of the Senate
was more active or influential in secur-
ing the passage OF the army reorganiZa-
ton bill as it passed the Senate, than
Senator Frank Brandegee, of Connecticut
He was Chairman Chamberlain's chief
lieutenant on the Republican side and
was ever alert to take advantage Of any
situation to secure the adoption Of
amendments that would increase the
! strength of the army.
The adoption of his amendment which
! increased the strength of the army to go,
loo was the climax of the quiet campaign