The Washington times., 1917-02-03
ARMY HAS PLANS
READY FOR WAR
Present Force Would Be Used
to Train 100000 Men
in One Year.
UNIVERSAL TRAINING LAW
No Troops Would Be Sent
Abroad Until Full Strength
Was Reached.
UNIVERSAL TRAINING LAW


States army II the breach of diplo-
matte relations with Germany in
wolves the United States in war with
the central powers.
In the main this plan involves:
First, using the present regu-
lar army and national guard as
force to train an army OF 2,0GO.-
OtO In one year, sending no
troops whatever to Europe dur
ing this period.
Second, obtaining the immedI-
ate passage OF universal mill
tary service law and calling out
the first three classes under that
law for training
Third, establishing training
camps in every State. and In more
than one camp in States which
have large cities.
Fourth, putting American mu-
nitions plants and other manu-
factories to work turning out sup
plies for an army of this size.
and converting other manufac
tories so that they may manu-
facture war material.
Not Concerned.
With the other serious problems
involved the army is not concerned
These are how the United States shall
enter the war. IL IL must, whether as
an ally OF the entente powers. or in
dependently; anu to what extent the
navy would be utilized Immediately
after outbreak OF war.
what has been definitely detar-
mIned I Is that the pitifully small
united states army could be of no
service In war of the maRnitude
now raging In Europe. For instance
IN the nrst ten months of the war
Russia lost 10000 officers killed. This
was more than the total mobile
strength, officers and men, of the
united states army at that time.
The tentative plan of the army gen.
eral sstan calls for the creation of
100 army divisions of 10000 officers
and men each. For this army there
would be required something like
$4,000 officers. At present there are
5000 officers in the United States
army.
100 Major Generals.
II the present plan of giving a
major general command of a division
were carried out there would be 100
majors generals needed, instead Of
the present half dozen. and a pro-
portionate increase In brigadIer gen.
erals, which would Immediately
necessitate the creation Of a big list
of general officers from the grades
below.
In preparing the data for the pro-
posed universal service bill. the army
stan decided that there would be
100000 young men subject to call
for military training every year IL
the call embraced every young man
attaining the age of eighteen or nine
teen that year.
1t was estimated that one-third of
this number would not be available.
through failure to meet physical
standards and for other causes. leav-
Ing something like $4,000 men in each
class.
First Three CIasses.
To give the army a force of 2,000,-
900 in the first year, therefore, the
general stan would call out, the first
three classes: that is, those young
men attaining the ages OF eighteen,
nineteen snd twenty the first year.
Using all present regular and mill
tia officers and such non-commis-
sisned officers hs were capable as
a training force, stan officers believe
an army OF 1000, 900 could be turned
out in a year, and that an army of
1000, 900 could be trained in tw
years. The United States army then
would be able to meet any situation
which 1t might be called upon to face.
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels to-
day would not say what preparedness
steps the navy has taken to meet con
ditions that may arise. The Secre-
tary refused to say what orders had
been given the battleships now mobil-
lied at Guantanamo, nor what orders
are in contemplation.
Won't BE Whitfield Down.
Whatever steps the navy takes.
however. officials said, the vessels
will not be sent out to be whitfield
down by German submarines. but
will. IL hostIlities ensue, be kept in
American waters for the present. =
II the Unite1 States is drawn into
the war, high officials believe 1t could
do no better than follow Japan's ex-
ample in the present war. Though
allied with the entente, Japan has
not sent a soldier or a battleship to
the European war zone, but has main
tanned control of its own adjacent
waters, while 1t has steadily prepared
its army and navy for any subsequent
participation in the war which may
be forced upon 1t.