Evening star., 1917-02-11
BILL PROV|DESF FOR
US. RESERVE ARMY
Measure in Senate Makes
Compulsory Six Months of
Military Training.
PENALTIES FOR EVASION


The Senate committee on military af-
fairs offers a specific plan for universal
military service on which public SEN
timent can crystalline in bill favor
ably reported to the Senate yesterday
In its report the committee does not
Indicate any belief that Congress Will
act on the measure at the present ses-
sion.
The bill was drafted by a subcom-
mittee of the military affairs commit
tee after hearings extending over
many months. 1t creates military
and naval reserve force based on uni
versal military training. for service in
the event of defensive war"
The bill requires six months train
ing without pay for all youths during
their nineteenth year. Exemptions are
confined to the members of the regular
army and navy. those physically unnt,
those who are the sole support OF de-
pendent relatives and those animated
with religious creeds which forbid them
to bear arms. The latter class is
liable however. for training in the
non -combatant branches of the army.
Would Train 500, 900 Annually.
1t is estimated the bill would provide
for the training of 100000 boys an
nually, each of whom would be fur
Ioughed into reserve for nine years
after his training period. With al
lowances for shrinkage of classes due
to various causes as the years pass.
this plan would give a total force of
yyb
training. at the end of the first nine
year cycle. all subject for service only
in the event of a defensive war or
the imn,inence thereof.
The bill disagrees with the theory of
the army general staff as TO the amount
of training necessary to make soldier
fit to go on the battle lines although
1t contemplates about the total
year of intensive instruction has been
declared by Maj. Gen. Scott. the chief |
OF staff. to be the minimum of safety
for the training of even defensive SOL
diers. A universal training bill. car
rying the Endorsement of virtually the
entire membership of the general staff,
and based on a years training. is al
most ready for final submission to Sec
retary Baker and the President. Neither
official has committed himself the
of universal training.
Penalties for Evasion.
The committee measure. which is |
based on that prepared by Maj. Nose |
ley formerly of the army general staff. |
fixes military training as a duty of |
denying naturalization un- |
til such training has been at least be- |
gun or exemption granted. Ali govern
ment employment would be closed to |
those who could not produce certifi-
n a n I1e aY md rariy- 70
employers would be similarly prohibited !
from employing any man who has /
svaded his military service.
blanket penalty with a maximum of
$1,000 fine and a years Imprisonment 1
for each offense is provided for the vto-
lation of any section of the act except |
that those who evade training when
liable for il must serve longer time.
For nine years or until he had passed |
his twenty-eishth year, each reservist !
would be required to report in person |
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.
National Guard Unchanged.
The bill provides no organization after
the troops leave training, but the Pres- |
dent is given wide latitude in this re- |
gard. No changes in the present Ma |
tional Guard system are provided for |
Training would be in military districts |
single states or groups of |
small states, and the esta blishment by !
lease or purchase of training canton /
ments in each district is directed Regis !
tration and medical examining boards |
for each district or subdivision also |
would be appointed by the President. the |
word of the later as to physical fitness |
to be final; while action Of the registra-
ton boards on exemptions could be ap-
pealed to the federal district courts |
Youths liable for training would be re- |
quired to report themselves or to be re-
ported by parents or guardians.
To encourage preliminary military train |
ing such as that given in schools credit |
to maximum of three months. or one
half the total required period, might be
allowed The applicant could elect either
army or navy services. his wishes to be
carried out as nearly as possible. Spe-
cifc prohibition is made against the use
of force in strikes or other industrial
Commissioning Officers.
officers 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 ac-
tive duty, not during training periods.
Provision also is made for commission
ing volunteer officers selected by ex-
animation from men who have had ex-
perience in the National Guard. mill
tary or naval training camps. at mill
tary schools or colleges. or who have
served their own sx-month training
period under the act
These officers would be liable an
nually for three years for two months
duty in training troops and could be
promoted only on examination and
compliance with training regulations to
be fixed by the President. Machinery
for the discharge of officers on un-
favorable findings as to their qualifica-
tions by efficiency boards also is pro-
vided.
The sale of Intoxicating liquors to a
member of the citizen army or navy
while in uniform is forbidden. although
sale and use of such for medicinal
purposes is possible under regulation
Another feature is that men who have
completed their training would be en-
titled to wear a rosette showing the
class to which they belong.
General Staff Disapproyes.