The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-26
CITIZEN ARMY
OF 100000
MEN PROPOSED
Baker Transmits War Col
lege's Universal Training
Plan to Senate.

Plan to Senate.
washington, Feb. 2S.-Secretary OF
War Baker hes sent to the Mlltar!
Affairs Committee of the Senate the
draft of the bill providing for a ma
tiona1 defense system based on liza
bility to universal training and ser
vice. The staff of the War College
framed the measure with the advice
and assistance of the General Staff.
With the bill the War College has
! submitted to Congress a minute ant
comprehensive report of it's invest1ga
ton of the military policy for the
country and tables showing the est1-
mated strength and cost OF the pro-
1 posed plan, as compared with the re-
suits to be attained under the existing
National Defense act.
While the bill represents the views
of the General Staff on proper mil
itary policy for the nation, it does mo-
60 to the Senate with any formal ap-
prevail from Secretary Baker Of the
War Department In a letter accom-
panying the draft of the bill, Mr.. Ba-
ker says:
GAS yet am not prepared to say
officially for the War Department thai
the need of the country can reason
ably he said to be for so great an es-
tablishment, nor can we yet, without
further study and deliberation, be con-
f.dent that the means suggested are
the most appropriate to the need which
it shall be determined wise to fore
see."
Summary of the Plan.
fyoi
ing for all boys in their nineteenth
year. except those exempted for
II specified reasons
Exemptions to be extended to
those physically or mentally unfit
II and those who are the sole sup
port Of otherwise destitute depend
entS.
4 Training to consist of eleven
II months during the first year and
two weeks during the second and
third years of a >reserviSt'S liza
bility. =
I War service to be required of
Il all who have been trained in the
4 first and second reserve, the first
4 reserve duty to extend over Pc
/ riod of four years and one month
i after training and second reserve
! duty for seven years. At the con-
j clusion Of service in the organ
| lied reserve the men would remain
/ liable for duty until they reach the
/ age Of As.
In case of war the reserve would
| be called <Out in their order, but
i further exemptions of a temporary
character would be granted to
| those who have become the sole
support of destitute dependents af-
L
and those whose position in civil
] branches Of federal or state gov
ernments are indispensable to the
| conduct of war
| Provides for 100000 Men. /
In round numbers the staff plan
would supply trained force of a.
100000 men, with one year of intens-
i've military instruction. It is esti-
! mated by the war college that APP
| proximately 100000 boys in their
nineteenth year would be available
! for training annually. Under the plan
| they would be liable to call to the
| colors until 80 years old, passing after
| the first eleven months of their train
| ing to the first reserve for the next
i four years and one month, then into
! the second reserve. and finally into
the unorganized reserve until they
reached the age Of As
j The purpose of the bill is to con-
stitute the first reserve as a fully or
i gained and equipped fighting force
4 with a strength Of 100000, ready to
/ respond instantly to call to arms.
i The second reserve, Of equal size
j but only partly equipped, would re-
quire some time to take the field. Evil
i IDENTIFY there would be 100000 addi-
4 tiona1 trained men ready to fill in
4 gaps at the 'front.'
4 In addition to these forces there
would be a regular army, composed
Of men choosing military life as a
4 profession, Of $4,000 officers and
II 285,886 enlisted men. OF these $4,000
would form the oversee forces and
$4,000 the frontier forces. the re-
i mainder composing the permanent
training personnel which could take
care OF the instruction Of 1928 te
654,292 reserve recruits annually. II
the proportion, of available men fo1
training was greater than the figures
given, the permanent training force
would have to be proportionately in.
creased.
The plan provides for the organiza
ton of the first reserve into local
lied national army, complete in every
unit" fully armed and equipped, with
frequent tests to insure quick mobili
zation Attendance at annual man
oeuvres would be required Of all re
servists only for the first two year
after completion Of training, bu
those who aspire to become officer
would attend during each Of the fou
= years of their services in this class
The second reserve also would b
organized and localized but would no
j be fully equipped or required to turf
n out for annual Inanoeuvres. In effect
II it would operate as reservoir from
II fl1ich the active regiments of tn
first reserve could be filled up with
II out loss of life.
II The plan stipulates that on its in
ception volunteers woul be acceptet
II into the reserve although past tn
Il ages specified for the universal train
ing system. Those qualified would
be appointed officers and non-com
i missioned, officers Of the first and sec
ond reserve, although eventually bot1
/ these forces would be composed O.
men who had received their full veal
II Of training.
| Effect on the Militia.