Bisbee daily review., 1917-04-10
WILSON CHAMPIONS | ARMY DRAFT PLANS
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(Continued From Page One) in the senate until a section authoriz- ing agencies to obtain recruits for the army was reached. Chairman Cham
 berlain said it was considered neces- sary to get men and instanced the fact that recruiting for the national guard had not been successful. Recruits have fiocked to national guard headuarters ever since the Ger man ambassador was sent home,' de- clared Senator Wadsworth, "but now 1 hear the war department has sent out orders forbidding the guard to accept recruits"
 Senator Nelson, veteran of the Civil war, declared himself in favor of a call for volunteers.
 1 venture to say" he haid, that if the President alls for a volunteer army of 500,O00 men and says that it is go- ing to Europe to fight, there would be no trouble at all What the boys dread above all is to be stationed in camp with nothing but drills and guard duty. What they want is to march and fight and to meet the enemy"
 The senator added, however. that he did not believe it necessary to send an army to Europe.
 Senator Stone urged an increase in the pay of priyates to four or five times the present amount. He said that might increase the army bill S1 ,000, 100000 a month. but was worth it because the men who would go to war would leave behind dependents"
 'I don't think this is a business matter" said Senator Vardaman. Tt is a matter of patriotism"
 "We are about to vote s5,0OO, ,0OO.- 900 to the President" replied Senator Stone. 'Very well, shall vote for it. but l wouldn't hesitate so far as am concerned to compensate the men who go to the front-not purchase them, not as a bounty. but that it might be the best paid army in the world"
 Before the house military commit tee Secretary Baker stood firmly for the general staff plan.
 Would you prefer" Representative dbhcus NO ldlSt a volunteer army within thirty days rather than to raise the 5O0,000 under selective draft that might take six months?" s,sS
 -'1 prefer the. selective draft sys- tem," replied the, Secretary.
 Mir Baker approved suggestion that instead of authorizing two in crements of selective draft forces, 500, 900 to an increment, the bill au- thorize the President to call as many such increments from time to time as he deemed necessary to prosecute the war Mir. Baker said the only provis- ion of the administration bill which would initiate against the continu ance of the national guard units as such after they had been drafted in the federal service, was that the way was to be opened for national guard officers to promotion to any part of the new army. This provision was inserted in justice to the officers of the guard and to provide an elastic and homogeneous military structure.
 MT. Baker explained also that the department had been unable to per init national guard recruiting to pro- ceed beyond the peace strength of the commands because of the shortage of equipment which it could supply i'm mediately. The departments reserve stock was absorbed by the recent bor der mobilization.
 In the senate the 1918 apprOpria- tion bill, designed to carry on the ex- icfiu0 nailit ta ry Ia hli ch hnannf nnnadA rapid progress. It has passed the house already and came from the sen ate committee carrying a total of S27S.000. 900 which is additional to the 5000. 100000 now asked for the army to meet the war emergency.
 The bill now contains one section, inserted by the senate committee, which has a direct bearing on the war emergency. It does away with the grade of brigadier general entire ly. submitting a senior and junior instead. The grade of brigadier cor responds to the abolished grade of commodore in the navy.
 The new section also proposes that the chief of staff be given the rank of general, senior to all other army of ficers, while in that position. This again parallels changes in navy prac- tice where the chief of operations has been ranking admiral of the navy. Similarly. departmental commanders will become generals and provision is made for the grade of lieutenant gen eral which has vanished from army lists with the retirement of General Miles.
 With armies in the field of the size now in contemplation this procedure becomes urgently necessary in order that high command can be properly assigned and adjusted