Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-13
SIX MONTHS DRILL
FOR YOUTH Of NATION
PROVIDED IN MEASURE
Compulsory Military Training
Bill, Reported FavOrabIy- by
Committee, Differs From
General Staff'S Plan

-
serve force based on universal military
training and service.
While the committee report does not
indicate any belief that congress VII
act on the measure at this session, the
bill brings Ito a definite head the uni
versal service discussion of the last
few months and offers a specific plan
on which. public sentiment can crystal
lie.
The bill requires six months trFining
without pay for all youths during their
nineteenth year. Exceptions are Goa
fined to the members of the regular
army and navy, those physically unfit,
those who are the sole SUPPORT of de-
pendent relatives and those affiliated
with religious creeds which forbid them
TO bear arms. The latter class are liable,
however, for training in the noncombat'
ant branches of the army.
II is estimated the bill would pro-
vide for the training of 100000 boys an
nually, each of whom would be fur
Laughed into reserve for nine years
after his training period. With allow
ances for shrinkage. of classes due TO
various causes as the years pass, this
plan would give a total force of 3,165,000
men who had had six months training,
at the end of the first nine years cycle,
all subject to call for service only in
the event of a defensive" war or the
imminence thereof.
HITS STAFF HEAVY.
The bill disagreeS with the theory of
the army general staff as to the amount
Of training necessary to make a soldier
fit to go on the battle lines although
il contemplates about the total strength
proposed by staff officers. A year Of
intensive instruction has been declared
by Major General Scott, the chief of
staff, to be the minimum of safety for
the training of even defensive soldiers.
universal training bill, carrying the
endorsement of virtually the entire
membership of the general staff and
based on a years training, is almost
ready for final submission to Secretary
Baker and the president. Neither Of
ficial has committed himself on the
principle of universal training.
The committee measure. which IS
based on that prepared by Major Nose
ley, formerly of the army general staff,
fixes military training as a duty Of
citizenship, denying naturalization until
such training has been at least begun
or exemption granted. All govsrpment
employment would be closed to those
who could not produce certificates Of
training exemption and private employ
ers would be similarly prohibited from
employing any man who has evaded his
military service. blanket penalty
with a maximum of $1,000 fine and
a years Imprisonment for each offense
is provided for the violation of any
section of the act except that those who
evade training when liable for il; must
serve a longer time.
For nine years, or until he had pass
ed his twenty-eighth year, each reserv-
list would be required to report in per-
son annually to the registration authori-
ties of his military district. In case
of war the youngest classes would be
called first. After his twenty-eighth
year a reservist would pass into the
great body Of the unorganized militia,
subject only to the general laws
LATITUDE OF PRESIDENT.
The b,ll provides no organization af-
ter the troops leave training, but the
president is given wide latitude in this
regard. No changes in the present ma
tional guard system are provided for.
Training would be in military districts
comprising single states or groups of
small states nd the establishment By
lease or purchase of training canton
ments i'm each district is directed. Reg
istration and medical examination boards
for each district or subdivision would
be appointed by the president, the WORD
of the latter as to physical fitness to be
final: while action of the registration
boards on exemptions could be appealed
to the federal district courts. Youths
liable for training would be required to
report themselves or to be reported by
parents or guardians.
To encourage preliminary military
training such as that given in schools,
credit to a maximum of three months, or
one-half the total required period might
be allowed The applicant could elect
either army or navy service, his wishes
to be carried out as nearly as possible.
Special prohibition is made against the
use of the force in strikes or other in
dustrial disputes
Oficers and enlisted men of the regu.
lar services could be commissioned in
the citizen army but would receive the
pay of their grades only while on active
duty, not during training periods Pro-
vision also is made for commissioning
volunteer officers, selected by examina-
ton from men who have had experience
m the national guard, military or naval
training camps, at military schools or
colleges, or who have served their own
six months training period under the
act. These officers would be liable
annually for three years of twd months
duty in training troops and could be pro-
NOTED only on examination and COM
pliance with training regulations to be
fixed by the president Machinery for
the discharge of officers on unfavorable
findings as to their qualifications by eff.
ficiency boards also il provided.
LIQUOR SALE BARRED.
The sale of intoxicating liquors to
member of the citizen army or navy
while in uniform is forbidden. although
sale and use of such for medical pur-
poses is possible under regulation. An
other feature is that men who have COM
pleted their training would be entitled
to wear rosette showing the class to
which they belong.
Officials of the general staff are en-
clined to disapprove the bill, particu-
larly because of the six months train
ing period. They declare that even the
year maximum fixed in the staff plan
contemplated only so per cent of the
efficiency of the average European re-
quirement for training.
The staff officers are inclined also
20 feel that inadequate provision Is
made for training personnel. \ force
of 100000 men, they say, requires a
minimum Of 1900 officers. at least so
per cent of whom must be professional
soldiers, If anything resembling inten-
sive training is to be given in six
months. The full commissioned strength
of the regular army under the national