The sun., 1917-02-24
War College Measure Pro-
vides 100000 Citizen
Soldiers in a Year.
TRAINING FOR II MONTHS
Youths of 10 Are to BE Called
First by "Universal
Service" Plan.


Army War College and which will be
considered by Congress was made pub
lie to-day.
1t provides for the creation and train
Ing OF Federal army in time of peace
by calling each year. with prescribed eN-
ceptions. all able bodied male citizens in
their nineteenth year for eleven months
continuous training. TO he followed by
two annual repetition courses OF two
weeks each.
1t provides for the expansion Of the
number of regular army officers and pro-
poses that State militias be absorbed by
the Federal army, although 1t Is recog-
nized that some provision must be made
for the States until they have organized
forces of constabulary or some other
power TO prevent domestic disorder For
this reason 1t is proposed to continue
for period of five years the financial
support provided by the so-called Dick
bill as amended prior to the passage of
the national defence act of June J. 1916
Trained Force of A,OOO.OOO.
In round numbers the stafr plan would
supply "a trained force of 4,O00.0O0 men
with one year OF Intense military In
struction. 1t is estimated by the War
Collese that approximately 100000 boys
In their nineteenth year would be avail
able for training annually. They would
under the plan be liable to call to the
colors until 32 years Of age. passing after
the first eleven months OF their train
Ing to the first reserve for the next four
years and one month, then into the sec
ond reserve. and finally into the unor-
ganized reserve until they reached the
age OF IS.
The purpose Of the bill is to constitute
the first reserve AS a fully organized
and equipped fighting force with a
strength Of 100000. ready to respond
instantly to n call to arms. The second
reserve. of equal size but only partially
equipped. would require some time to
take the field Eventually there would
be 1000. 900 additional trained men ready
to tlll In gaps at the front.
In addition 10 these forces there
would be q regular army. composed Of
men choosing military life as a profess
sion. Of 400 officers and 2s5,Ss6 en-
listed men.
Wilson and Baker Are silent.
Although the President and Secretary
Baker have been made acquainted with
the details Of the bill they have not gone
on record as specifically indorsing IT..
This, It Is explained. IL because they
wish Congress to have free hand IN
handling II. 1t is pointed out that Con-
gress asked the War College to submit
the universal service plan following the
testimony OF Major-Gen. Hugh l.. Scott,
Chief of Staff. before the Senate Mli-
tary Committee.
In connection with the calling OF men
of 10 years TO the colors the following
classes are exempted:
Those permanently physically or
mentally unfit for service of any kind.
Such men will be permanently re-
jected,
Those temporarily physically or
mentally unfit. Such men will be
temporarily rejected. but will he re-
examined each year until they reach
the asc of % years. when they are
permanently assigned to the unorgan-
lied reserves. If in any year during
this period they are found fit for ser
vice they will be called out for train
ing in peace and service in war with
the class of that year
support Of Dependents Exempt.
Those who are the sole supports OF
destitute dependents. Such men Will
he exempted for one year, and so on
from year 10 year, until they reach
the age of -, when the liability to
training ceases. and they are assigned
permanently to tho unorganized re-
serves. II they should cease to be
the sole support of destitute depen-
dents during any year before they
reach the age OF 25 they will be called
Il. tlN.
class OF that year.
In the event OF war all nonexcmpte6
physically and mentally Mt male citi'
zens who have completed their pre-
scribed eleven months continuous train
Ing are liable to service In the reserve:
until they reach the age OF 40,
The duties OF the permanent person
mel to be created for the army are sum
marized as follows:
To form the necessary garrisons fol
| our naval bases and otlfer overseas pos
| sessions. The organizations required fo
these purposes constitute the overseas
garrisons.
To form detachmcnts for frontie
guard duty and for the mine defence o
our fortifcations at home. These de
tachments constitute the frontier forces
To form the administrative and teach
| ing personnel required for the training
! of annual contingents Of reservists am
! for the maintenance OF the reserve or
ganiZation in time OF peace. This por
| tion of the permanent personnel, TO
gether with the recruits under training
| is to be formed into training units am
| constitutes the training forces. Fac
| tactical unit IN. the training forces IL es
, sent tally school for training rescrvist.
! 1t IL stated that considerable expan
sion In the number of officers and non
commissioned officers will be necessar,
1t Is proposed to receive into the servic
| qualified officers and non-commissionc
officers of the National Guard. organize
militia and suitable enlisted men OF tn
regular army
! In like manner It Is proposed to invit
graduates of military schools and col
leges and all other citizens OF forme
military training and experience to appl
for appoint ment in the permanent estat
lishment. subject to proper tests as I
capacity and character.
| In estimating the cost of maintenance
of the proposed army. the War Colleg
figured that an annual military bulge
of $472.25S.746 would be required [
keep up the proposed force at strengt
of 3,2s6.023 men. including the regular
The total represents an annual cost ne
man OF Sl432s, and includes the cost c
training of the 475.O00 recruits, a
though II does not enumerate them q
available soldiers.