South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-30
COULD CALL OUT
100000 TROOPS
President Has Power to Bring
Regulars and Guards to
War Strength.

WASHINGTON. March 80 -
Plans to forward further prepated-
ness measures for the army Thurs
day began TO assume definite form.
How an increased armed force
may be promptly secured for the
present emergency as we'll as uni
versal training as a national policy
were discussed by Pres't Wilson
with Sen. Cham berlain of Oregon.
chairman of the senate military
committee. At the same time Sec'y
Baker and administration officials in
congress considered legislation
needed Immediately for the military
establishment.
Sen. Chamberlain told the presi-
dent that he believed that the ex-
ecutive now has authority without
further action by congress to raise
at once an army of more than 700
600 men, by increasing the regular
army TO war strength and calling
out all Of the national guard, at
war strength. with cooperation from
state executives.
Discuss Large Force.
There was no intimation that the
president was considering such
step Immediately, but the whole
field of measures necessary to Sc
cure a larger force was discussed.
For present needs, the war de-
partment, Sec'y Baker said. has de-
cided to submit TO congress a bud
get containing virtually the same
provisions as the regular army ap-
preparation bill, which failed at the
last session.
Estimates for the expense in con-
nection with an enlarged army or
for any emergency activities will be
presented later. This decision coin
cides with the house plan to re-en-
act the appropriation bill without
change and send it at once TO the
senate.
Sen. Chamberlain also agreed to
expedite the bill in the senate. To
this end he said he would not again
offer his universal training bill as a
rider If it would delay prompt ac-
ton on the supply measure.
The conference between the presi-
dent and Son. Chamberlain at the
latter's request, was primarily to
discuss the senator's universal train
ing plan. He asked the president
TO endorse the general principle Of
compulsory training in his forth
coming message to congress. The
president, IL was said, gave no in
dication Of his probable course He
was said 10 favor some plan for pro-
viding military training but was
non-committal regarding the Cham
berlain plan. to which he is under
stood to have some objection.
Expects Endorsement.
After leaving the white house the
senator said he was still hopeful of
administration endorsement of his
measure. and also expressed in
creased optimism over prospects of
passage by the senate of some form
of universal training measure Sew
eral senators, he said, who formerly
opposed the plan, now favored II.
As TO the measures necessary for
increasing the army in emergency
Sen. Chamberlain said that unde-
existing law the president is author
lied 10 increase the standing army
to its war strength of 100000, or
with auxiliaries aggregating n regu-
lar force of about 100000 The
war strength of the national guard
was estimated at about 100000,
with all forces fully enlisted. Thus
combined. the senator said,
trained army of nearly three quar-
ters Of a million men could be pro-
vided without action by congress.
When the regular army appro-
priation bill reaches the senate, Sen.
Chamberlain said. he thought il
would be increased with or without
specific request from war depart
ment. at least sufficiently to provide
material necessary for an army Of
1 900, 900 men.