Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-11
Proposed Law Offers Spe-
cHc Plan on Which
Public Sentiment Can
CrystalHze.

q
7 rorabiy today a bin framed b. a sub.
committee creating military and
! naval citizen reserve force bared on
/ universal military training ana SER
/ vice.
While the committee reror, docs not
indicate am belief tnat Congress viii
act on tho measure ~ this session. the
bill brings To dctini,e head the rn:-
Tcrsal service discussion o! the last
! few months. and offers a specific plan
on which public sentiment can cry
/ stallizc.
/ prima rily The bill provides that all
| mon citizens. or those who have de-
clared their intent 10 become citi2en.
shall undergo six months military or
/ naval training in tho year in which
! they reach the age of nineteen or in the
year when they first become liable to
! such service up TO the age of TWEEN
I ;y-six. All men receiving such train.
\ ins would be held in army or navy
I reserve until they reach the age o.
I twenty eight.
+ The btu submitted BY tho committee
differs in many respects from the plan
I being worked oit BY the Army General
Stan and was prepared by subcom-
/ miitee with assistance OF Captain
George V. II. Moselcy. who was for a
I time q member of thc genera! staff
I Tho measure. at the outset. contains
provision tina; in the first year OF
! its operation. the periods OF training
should be three instead OF SIX months
EXEMPTION ALLOWED
TO CERTAIN PERSONS
lnacr the terms of the bill eHcmp-
ticn from the proposed military train
Ing would include the following
Members Of the permanent military
or naval forces OF the United States.
PERSONS physically unfit.
Persons OH whose earnings father
mother. brother, sister. wife or child
iS wholly dependent for support.
Members OF any religious sect or or
( f;anizatton now organized and exist
( ing whose creed forbids them 10 bear
ai"1S IN war would be trained in non
conbatant branches Of military or
naval service.
Persons convicted OF a felony or Of
notoriously bad character would be
trained in special units.
Persons who have compl.ted
course of military instruction approved
OK Navy. would be allowed a credit
consisting OF deduction from the
training period of not more than one
month for each year in which they
nave completed such course 10 the sat
isfaction OF the Secretaries OF War or
Navy.
No substitute may be accepted. and no
one would be permitted 10 escape train
ing by payment of money or other
inducement. While undergoing train
ing. all would receive expenses and
clothing and medical attendance
FURTHER DRASTIC MEANS
OF COMPELLING TRAINING
=! IS further and drastic means OF
compelling training. the bill would
prohibit the employment Of ans per
son up TO the age OF twcnty-eight years
who is or has been able TO be trained
under this act unless he has a GER
tincate of training or an unexpired
certificate of temporary exemption or
certificate OF permanent exemption
from training"
For administering the army train
ing, the country would be divided into
districts by the Secretary of War
Zach person at the time Of regis
trauon would be permitted to express
preference for the army or navy
In the event of defensive war or
or imminent danger thereof the Pres-
dent would call out all or any part of
inc reserve army or the reserve navy
by classes; the youngest class Grs:
Inc reserve army or the reserve navy
could not be used in cases OF strikes
or industrial disputes.
strict prohibition regulations would
be enforced in all training districts.
II X estimated the bill would pro-
vide for the training of 800. 900 boys
annually. each OF whom would be fur
ioushed into n rescr%a !or nIne years
after his training period. With al
lowances for shrinkage OF classes due
- various causes as the wears pass.
th's plan would give :, total force OF
".l6a.00o men who had had six months
training. at the end of the first nine
year cycle. all subject to call for ser.
wee only in the even; Of !. defensive"
war or the immincnce thereof.
DiSAGREE As TO AMOUNT
or TRAINING NECESSARY
The bill disagrces with tho theory
OF the army general staff az 20 the
| amount OF training neccssar.. to make
a soldier III to go on the battle lines
although II contemplates about tho
total strength proposed BY stan officers.
year Of intensive training has been
declared by Major-Ccncral Scott to he
the minimum Of safety for the training
| or even defensive soldiers. a universal
training bill, carrying the indorsemen,
OF virtually the entire membership OF
the general star and based on n wears
training, is almost ready for ANAL sub
mission TO Secretary Baker and tho
PRESIDENT Neither official has COM
mitted himself on the principle of uni
vcrsal training.
The committee measure fixes military
training as duty OF citizenship deny
ing natMral liza ion until SIch l,,i,