New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-16
BAKER STUDYING
GENERAL STAFF'S
TRAINING PLANS
Army Chiefs Confer with
Secretary on Measure
for Defence
DENT WOULD CALL
FOR VOLUNTEERS
Only Cannon rooo,
Gardner Tells Head OF
Military Committee

Washington, Feb. ia careful
study of the army General Stats plan
for universal military service was
begun to-day by Secretary Baker, who
called Major General Scott, the Chiet
Of staff, and Brigadier General Kuhn'
president Of the War College, into con-
ference on the subject, and later sent
20 the War College for additional data
on some Of the points involved.
The army officers who talked over
the plan with the Secretary appeared
very hopeful that he would indorse H.
although he might suggest modihea'
items of some provisions, ineiudlhg
that relating to exemptions.
The Administration present plan OF
military defence was revealed on the
soor of the House to-day by Chairman
s H. Dent, jr., Of the Military Affairs
Committee.
DWeu call for volunteers" he said
This answer was brought out by
Renresentative Smith, of Buffalo. who'
after listening to Chairman Dent ar :
Representative Gardner tell OF the
dwindling size of the regular army IN
quired:
How Army Would Be Raised
"How would we raise an army Of a
ut. ,.or in the event of an emer-
gency?" A.. roor1or
"Oh, we would increase the regular
o,r,vn said Mr.. Dent, who SUCCEEDED
Iar,ss Hay. of Hay bill fame, when the
Latter was elevated to the Federal
bench bv President Wilson. and we
HruId have the National Guard re-
cruited up. and we would call for vol
"Tben." interjected Representative
corfnrd of New York, admitting the
srn,v voc have now is intended only Tor
peace purposes, we would depend, IN
the event of an invasion, pracucaliy Oh
unframed men?"
"Tbat depends on what you mean by
.nractically'." said Mr.. Dent.
awe have available for home. defence
something like 10000 men IN the regu-
lar army" said Mr.. Sanford; you
wouldn't call 10000 men an army,
would your ,u.,;d
Mr.. Dent. NJ
Sanford. co nm . -
torted Mr.. Dent.
The debate thea turned on the rails
ing Of armies for the European war.
Mir. Mcclellan, of Tennessee Senator,
eIect). asked Representative Gardner II
he did not think the volunteer army OF
England was as good as the conscript-
ed armies Of the other European ma
England has been forced to con
scription," retorted Mr.. Gardner.
"That's only lately" said Mr.. Me-
Kellar "but how about the Canadian
aud Australian troops as compared
with the conscripts p
Where England Lost Time
Isn't the practical effect this
broke in Representative Sherley' OF
Kentucky, "that, as a result OF nor
being trained, England could not put
an army into the held until a year
after her allies?"
"That is absolutely true" said Mr.
Gardner, land, as a result, IT Is TAX
ing ten men now 70 accomplish what
could have been done by three IN the
first instance"
Handy admitting that the army
could not get even the small number
of men authorized by the Hay bill,
Chairman Dent characterized as "eX.
tremcly LIBERAL the willingness oil
lhe Administration TO appropriate for
"a, army Of $4,000 men less than the
Hay bin proposed
~ see no reason" said Mr.. Dent,
TO appropriate for an army Of lfO'-
600 men when the War Department
has no chance of enlisting that many
A wear ago Congress passed resolu-
zion increasing the army from lO0,-
600 men TO 10000 men. Actually the
department has not been able 10 re-
cruit that many. ! regard IT as very
liberal now for us TO appropriate for
an army Of $4,000 men,
81 know we are way yonder short
he said later, in permitting MI.
Gardner to read the official figures.
Mr.. Dent also claimed that the Ma
tional Guard had now been recruited
20 "more than full strength He de-
clared that the pending army bill was
not intended as war measure. IL
will not 20 into effect he said, "un-
iii July !. 1917. II Is intended simply
to provide for our military forces IN
time Of peace"
Training Bill Held Back
II would like to ask" inquired Mr..
Smith. OF Buffalo, "if universal train
ing was considered by the commit
tee ?"
General Scott the Chief of staff"
replied Representative Kahn, ranking
Republican member OF the committee,
promised this committee when he
was on the stand that he would draw
up a bill providing for universal
training. lie prom 'sed 70 have that
report in our hands in thirty days.
That was six weeks ago, and We have
not vet heard of the bill"
Mr.. Smith then pressed his CUES
ton as % how a sufficient force could
be raised in an emergency. bringing
out that unframed men would be
a. ..cfupfncV