The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-26

fSSentS' an annual cost for each man
| of $143.2S and includes the cost of
training of tho 900 recruits al
though it does not enumerate them
as available soldiers.
In comparison with this the staff
| says the eventual military budget I'M
der the present National Defense act
| plan. The first cost of the regular
and National Guard establishment
contemplated by the Defense act,
with full reserve supplies and neces-
sary construction of permanent ma
ture such as a1mories, is given as
| 81, IA, SIS, 566. With cuntonment or
temporary construction instead of per-
,manent the figures would be reduced
| to 81, 437, 535, 566. This would pro-
vide for a total force of 1,137,2OO
men.
In comparison with this similar fig
ures for the universal training plan
| are: For permanent construction ST.
| 1873, O31,3 72; contOnrnent construction,
! sos, S16,907. This would provide,
| however, for 3,296,@23 men, who had
had a years training, and pay also
for the instruction and maintenance
| of Ats, 600 boys in training.
Secretary Bakers Comment.
|
ments, ia bles and studies included in
| the exhaustive study made by the
| War College and transmitted with the
proposed bill, Secretary Bakers letter
| says:
'For some time Congress has been
considering the military policy and
establishment of the country. Vari-
GUS plans Of enlargement and reor-
ganization have. been considered, and
| in June of, last year, there was pass
| ed the National Defense act, popular
| ly known as the plan of Federalizing
| the militia of the States into a Ma
tional Guard which would be more
intimately associated with the regu-
lar army, and, by virtue of more
intensive system of training, would
prove better secondary reliance
than it had previously been.
'Discussion Of the subject, how
ever, has continued, and throughout
the country much attention has been
given to general ideas of universal
compulsory training and service. So
far as I am aware, the study here
presented from the War College is the
first attempt to present those ideas
in a comprehensive and detailed FORM
to show the number of men who
would be thus trained, the exemp-
lions, the investment, and the con-
tinuing annual cost
''This plan is regarded by the mill
tary experts of the General Staff as
ideal. They recognize, however, that
it involves not only a radical depar-
ture from the military traditions of
the country, but that it presents a
vast scheme of organization far larg-
er both in cost and results than any
thing yet seriously considered by the
people Of the United States.
"The General Staff believe the
plan, however, to have this merit:
That it can be used in part for the
training of a less number of men and
at a less cost in proportion, SO that
should the opinion Of the country,
when thoroughly informed come to
favor the principles upon which this
measure is based, it's application
could be as rapid or as gradual as
the Congress may determine wise I'M
der the circumstances.
''The bill here transmitted looks to
the annual training OF about 100000
men, who, when trained, pass into
the reserve until ultimately there
will be available an aggregate force in
1.-THE active and reserve force of the
country Of about 100000 men, The
War College will place itself at your
disposal, either to study any other
suggested plan or to advise upon
notifications of the draft herewith
transmitted, should your committee
desire such notifications in any of
the details.
Hopes for Wide Discussion.
This draft is not transmitted with
the thought that the present Con-
gress in it's closing days will find it
possible to give thorough consideration
TO so large and Intricate matter, but
rather in the hope that by it's publ
cation all the details of the plan can
be made available for the general in
formation of the country at large, and
with the feeling that the more or
less underlined ideas which have been
so widely discussed throughout the
country. can, on the basis of this Or
DERBY statement, be mature1y cons1d-
cred. In this way the effect of the
proposal upon our preparation for
national defense, as we'll as upon the
life and institutions of the country,
may be weighed
| ''The questions at issue in any such
project as this are to measure, first,
the prospective need Of the country,
and then to determine the measures
appropriate to meet it, The plan is,
| therefore, to be examined from both
| points of view, and it's discussion
throughout the country will throw
light on both questions
/ The synopsis lays stress on the fact
that the plan proposes to establish
| only "a reasonable measure of de-
Tense of the United States from sue
I ceSSfu1 INVASION" The amount of
| training prescribed is estimated to be
that absolutely necessary for a de-
fensive army and to have no connec-
ton with the training Of any force for
| aggressive purposes.
The War Colleges study of the
problem of universal training was
made originally at the suggestion of
Senator Chamberlain, Chairman of
the Senate Military Affairs Commit
/ tee. There is little expectation that
Congress will take any action at this
| session on either this bill or the one
framed and reported by the Senate
committee after series of hearings
lasting most of the present session.
| Senator Chamberlain and the other
/ advocates Of universal training in
| Congress hope, however, that the dis
| cussion which the plan will arouse will
| i'm, n ho Of