Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-19
KAHN T0LEAD FIGHT
IN HOUSE FOR DRAFT
Republican to Be Administra-
tion Spokesman on Army
Preparation.
COMMITTEE BILL OFFERED

Preparing to lead the fight in the
House for the administration bill, Rep
resentative Kahn. ranking republican
of the military committee, conferred
today with Secretary Baker.
Representative Kahn received addi
tional information at the War Depart
ment to conduct the fight he has under
taken To all intents and purposes he
will be administration spokesman be-
fore the House on the question of army
preparation.
1t is expected Mr.. Kahn will present
In his minority report a letter from
Secretary Baker sent to Chairman Dent
two days ago in final effort to get
the committee to approve the admins
tration plans. which outlines clearly
the purpose of the military experts to
provide places for nearly 100000 in
dividual volunteers in the expanded
their reasons for distrusting any
scheme for taking into the service COM
plete volunteer units as proposed by
the majority. of the House committee
Experience in Europe.
Representative Kahn will have avail
able also a detailed study of England 5
struggle with the volunteer system
made by American military experts who
personally watched the process. II is
understood these reports graphically
picture the failure of the system under
Its greatest test in history and point
out the costly delay and experiment
cost and the attendant military dis
asters at the front charged to 1t.
Discussing his plans. Representative
Kahn said the position taken by the
committee minority will be that the
laymen of Congress have no right TO
set aside the view of trained experts in
favor Of plan which those experts be-
1ieve Is dangerous to the nation
Representative Kahn pointed out that
only four members Of the House had
personal military experience and all
four favor the administration bill.
The fight is not lost" Mr. Kahn said.
'1 do not believe that the House itself
will care to assume the responsibility
of overriding the unanimous Judgment
of trained military men at home and
abroad and set up an army organiza-
ton Of its own. for the failure OF
which Congress would have to bear
the full blame. II the plans of our
experts are tried and go wrong. the
blame will be theirs. 1t will not rest
on Congress"
Amended Bill introduced.
The bin as amended by the commit
tee was introduced today by Chairman
Dent It was Immediately referred back
to the committee for the perfunctory
report Mr.. Dent expects to report the
bin Monday and take II up in the House
Tuesday.
President Wilson still is determined
that the selective draft plan should
prevail, and it seemed probable that,
if necessary, he would appeal direct to
the people on the ground that the ma
tion's safety depends on prompt enact
ment Of the general staff bill.
without waiting for congressional
action on the army bill the War De-
partment announced plans for civilian
oficers' training camps. which Will be
established May I at fourteen places
throughout the country. Members of
the Oficers' Reserve Corps and appli-
crnts for commissions in the new army
>will be given training courses under
regular army officers beginning May
trained officers by the middle of July
for the first 100000 recruits to be
raised Other prospective officers will
be given three months course. War
Department plans make no provision
for paying the men during the train
ing period.
Senate Gets Army Bill.
Senator Chamberlain. chairman of the
military affairs committee. reported
favorably the administration war army
bill to the Senate today. 1t is his pur-
pose to call the bill up at the earliest
opportunity and press 1t to passage.
The bill Is practically that drafted by
the general staff. and contains the pro-
vision for the selective draft. There is
no provision for call for volunteers.
IL will still be possible to volunteer for
service in the regular army and in the
National Guard. however.
An effort will be made by some of the
senators who favor the volunteer system
as opposed to the draft. or conscription.
10 have the bill amended in the Senate.
so as to provide for calling 100000 rolun-
teers 1t is the confident belief how.,-r
of Senator Chamberlain and others r:at
the bill will pass with the selective draft
provision and without provision for d call
for 50e.ee0 volunteers.
canvass of the sentiment of the SEN
tors has revealed that a considerable II a
jority Of them will support the President
and the general stam In this matter. Many
of them who prefer the volunteer system
will yield because they feel that the Presi-
dent and the general staff are better able
to decide the matter from the information
and study which they have received and
given.