Arizona republican., 1917-04-04
URGE BIC ARMY
On UNIVERSAL
LIABILITY PLAN
Republican A. P, Leased Wirel


tration plans for raising an army on
the principle of universal liability to
service, to be submitted to congress as
soon as the pending war resolution is
adopted, are based on selective con-
Scription of young men to be sum-
moned to the colors as rapidly as they
can be trained and officered. A detailed
scheme for the registration of eligibles
has been worked out.
After married men, others with de-
pendents and those whose service is re-
quired in industries have been eX
empted others within the age limit
fixed will be examined physically, and
those found fit will be selected, possibly
by lot until the first 100000 to be
trained are secured.
1t was made clear today that $780,
600 is nowhere near the limit needed,
and that it is expected that more than
100000 available will be found in the
first classification. Others will be
trained as rapidly as possible by Off
GERS from the regular army, national
guard and officers reserve corps.
Maximum and minimum age limits
for the first call are fixed in the ad-
ministration plan but will not be made
public until presented to congress. In
recent discussions a minimum of IS
years and a maximum of % years have
been mentioned.
Preliminary military steps possible
under existing laws were added today
to those already taken. They included
direction by Secretary Baker that the
first class at the West Point military
academy be graduated April 20, sup
plying 125 highly trained young Of
ficers.
At the navy department it was an
nounced that step have already been
taken to insure close cooperation be-
tween the American fleet and those
of the entente fleet, after formal decla =
ration.
Standardization of the munitions in
dustry will be one of the first direct
steps taken under direction of the ma
tional defense council. A continuous
and adequate flow of weapons and
ammunition of all kinds will be in
sured, not only for the American forces
but to the entente armies.
The national defense council has been
planning to recommend legislation to
standardize prices for army supplies
and ammunitions, but it has been dis
covered that under the national de-
fense act of July 8, 1916, the supplying
gatory on all firms and individuals at
"a reasonable price to be determined
by the secretary of war" In case Of
violations the government is authorized
to seize plants and institute criminal
proceedings. So far, however, firms
generally have indicated entire willing
ness to cooperate with the govern
ment.
Only one big move in preparation for
war remains to be made in the navy
department. That is mobilization of the
naval militia and the various classes of
the naval reserve. The former will go
to the reserve ships of the line, filling
out skeleton crews and making the
ships ready for action. From the latter
will come the men for the coast patrol
and submarine chaser services as well
as additional men for line ships.
Probably $4,000 men could be added
to the navy personnel at once by this
mobilization. 1t has been estimat ted
that double that number would be re-
quired for full patrol of the Atlantic
coast by motor boat 1t seems probable
that unless sufficient volunteers re-
spond promptly, the universal service
, system may be invoked to fill up the
navy's ranks.
Bids were opened at the war depart
ment today for 16inch rifles to go ir
| the coast defenses. The Bethlehem
Steel company was the only bidder, of
! fering two or four guns complete al
| S225, 900 each, or without breach me-
chanism at 5000 each. These guns
are part of the new coast defense pro-
gram approved by congress a year ago
| In connection with the army plan:
| it was pointed out today that under tht
| present national defense act the ma
| tional guard can be brought to it's full
war strength by draft. The force ha!
an authorized total strength OF 100000
and its present strength is about 100,
| 900. Orders to muster out men witt
| dependent families and those in tn,
government service or at work on gov
| ernment contracts may reduce thi
| number considerably.
1t is not known whether the war de
| partment contemplates any change il
the present status of the guard. Thes
| troops would not be available for serv
| ice in Europe under existing law and il
addition the full number may be re
quired for police work at home Nor
| than 10000 are now so employed.
The authorized strength of the regu
lars is about 100000 men of all branch
es. That service, unless a change
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