New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-23
Even Former Pacihsts De.
mand Immediate Big
Increase
Universal Training
Plan Most Favored
Washington Does Not Ex-
pect to Send Troops to
Europe Soon

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. March 22.-Two facts
stick out prominently in the war stu
alton here:
One is that the problem now facing
the United States is a military problem
almost entirely.
The other is that the solution must
be found by Congress. and Congress
alone.
When Congress convenes on April 2
it will find conditions entirely changed
from what they were four weeks be-
lfore.
The tendency just now is to believe
that the army will not be concerned in
such a war as is now being fought In
Europe. AS it would take at least
eighteen months, and probably two
years. to send really useful army to
Europe, the probability is that the
question will not arise, as the war
ought TO be over by then. But itwould
be sheer folly. to the minds of mill
tary men and other thoughtful people,
for the country TO sit securely behind
the Allied navies and ignore the posi-
bility that Germany might bring Eng
land to her knees.
Sentiment for Army Reform
There is a rapidly growing sentiment
in Congress for army reform. Men IN
both houses who have been out-and-out
pacifsts will, when the new Congress
convenes. demand legislation for rad
ical increases in the army. This re-
fleets a changed attitude throughout
the country. 1t shows that the pacihst
Congressman are hearing from home:
There are two ways in which the
country may go about its preparation
of an army. One is the Historical
plan-the getting together of mob OF
volunteers, whipping them into shape
and shipping them off TO Europe, to
gether with the regular army and the
useful fragment Of the National Guard:
II would mean stripping the country OF
trained soldiers and men, and after the
little army was sent there would be
nothing with which TO replace 1t for
years.
Drain on Industries
Not only that, but it would draw men
Of all ages from all walks Of life. II
would take from many industries val
liable trained mechanics. on whose la
Dor the success Of the Allies so largely
depends. Army strategists are warn
ing against this. The United States IN
entering the war must be prepared,
they say, to increase it's economic as
sistance TO the Allies, not diminish 1t.
The other system is the universal
service plan. 1t would take youths OF
nineteen only, and instead of stripping
the country Of military resources, as
the organization of a volunteer army
would do. it would lay the foundation
for n future system IN which every
able bodied young man would be
trained to arms. In eighteen months
under this plan. the United States
would not only be prepared TO SEND
abroad an army of 100000 men, but II
would be able 20 supply reserve mere
ments at the rate of about 10000 a
month thereafter.
Unless this plan is adopted-scien-
tifc. democratic, adequate congress
had better leave matters as they are,
according to the military experts.
volunteer army would be more OF a
hindrance than a help in the genera
scheme OF cooperation with the Allies.
Strangely enough, it is in the East
where the demand for preparedness
and partisanship for the Allies has
been strongest, that the cry is gong up
for a volunteer army similar 10 that
which was raised at the outbreak OF
the Spanish-American War. That army
was good enough for that kind Of war,
army men say. but would cut a sorry
figure on Europes battlefelds to-day;
Secretary Baker, as chairman OF the
Council Of National Defence, to-day
called the council and its advisory COM
mittee of heads of great industrial con-
Germs 70 meet here Saturday to discuss
how much more work is necessary to
put the country in a state Of adequate
preparedness for defence. The counci
already has accomplished much toward
mobilization of all the nations re-
sources, and these results will be sur
veyed at Saturdays meeting.