The Washington times., 1917-03-25
U. 5. HAS PLAN TO
SEND ARMY ABROAD
May Place Contingent Of Regu-
lars on French Front to
Boost Recruiting.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

! l.. Scott, chief OF stan, ana with MEM
bers OF the general stan on military
plans.
General staff officers are unanimous
in the belief that a strong force must
be concentrated near the Mexican
border the moment hostilities begin.
The German plot to embroil Mexico in
war with the United States has made
a deep impression in army circles
and the fear that German agents aad
German reservists in Mexico will start
trouble is very general.
The belief is that Germans will at
once seek to cause trouble on the
Mexican border in the hope OF em-
broiling the Mexican government into
difficulties with the United States
Early Graduation.
Secretary Baker and Mai. Gen.
Hugh L. Scott, chief OF staff, are con-
sidering the advisability of gradual
ing the first class at West Point ahead
of time as young officers are badly
needed. Mr.. Baker has somewhat de-
/ layed decision on this point because
the West Pointers would take pre-
cedence over probably 400 or 500 off,
GERS appointed from civil life, the en-
listed force and the National Guard,
since those who are appointed as q
/ result of the January examinations
will not be commissioned until May /.
But Mr.. Bakers objection concerns
| merely this technicality and will
probably not be maintained.
The President is understood to feel
that this is a time for going ahead
and not for raising technical obstruc-
tions.
Recruiting in the army now Is pro-
ceeding along scheduled lines. but the
army is still short about 10000 men in
its present authorized enlisted
strength. During the last two months
over 5000 recruits have been accepted
and in February there was a net gain
of $500
Lessons Used.
Some OF the lessons learned by The
army in the recent Mexican campaign
are going to be utilized as soon as
funds are forthcoming. As a result
of experience by the Army with ar
mored motor cars in Texas. Mexico.
and elsewhere the bureau OF army
ordnance has prepared tentative
standard specifications as a basis for
requirement of a number of these mo
/ tor cars.
The outfit prescribed Is OF the me-
| dium weight type. the total weight
OF the car completely equipped with
| oil, gasolene and water and including
guns and ammunition not to exceed
8 800 pounds.
The motor car will mount one ma
chine gun in revolving turret Of
about thirty-eight inches in diameter.
Provision will be made in the car for
carrying one extra gun and three
spare barrels. The main portion of
the car body will have sufficient ca
pacity to accommodate three men. not
less than 5000 rounds of ammunition
IN belts or magazines and will permit
the convenient operation of the gun
at all angles. Three tanks. with a
total capacity of thirty gallons of
s1soiene' VIII be placed on the car.
Plan Not Decided.
Whether the army will be raised
under the universal service plan.
which has been submitted to Congress
by the army general staff or by
call for a half million volunteers is a
matter OF prophesy TO be determined
In the interval before the conyeninR
OF Congress week from tomorrow.
The War Department has made pre-
liminary plans to train and eduip
this army of half a million no matter
which plan is adopted. The two most
important steps taken has been:
First, to call on commanding off
GERS OF all regular army regiments to
submit the names OF sixty noncommis-
stoned officers and enlisted men from
each regiment who would be qualified
to train a civilian army.
Sufficient Force.
This. with the reserve Officers now
being commissioned will provide a
force Of commissioned officers to
train the new levies.
Second. the War Department on the
recommendation Of the Council on Ma
tional Defense has prepared contracts
TO equip completely a force OF 5O00O0
men with munitions. clothing. uniforms,
and field supplies OF all kinds, and these
contracts are ready to be awarded as
soon as the force is called out 10 manu-
facturers. whose plants have been sur
veyed by the defense council.
War Department officials realize that
the force OF 10000 is only a starter and |
that a much larger army must be raised |
IL war comes.
The universal training bill submitted |
TO Congress calls for the raising. equip |
ping. and training. within a reasonable |
time Of 100000 men.
All Boys of Nineteen.
Under the stan plan all boys Of nine
teen would be called out each year. OF |
the 100000 attaining the age of nine
teen in the year 1917. based on census
reports. 1t is estimated that exemptions
would reduce the number to $4,000.
Any universal training adoption there
fore will probably provide for calling
out several other classes beside the
in time Of
While these army plans are taking
form, the navy has prepared orders 10 |,
the commanding officers OF the Atlantic,
Pacifc. and Asiatic fleets which will 20
forward Immediately upon the declara-
lion OF war or the declaration that a
state Of war exists
Other steps taken by the navy in
the way of preparedness have been to
place contracts for ell authorized
warships under agreement with
shipbuilders. and orders to navy
yards to rush construction under dou-
BILE shift: to speed up the graduation
Of the Annapolis class, and call out re-
tired officers so as to provide Officers
FOR all ships of the feet in reserve;