The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-05
Detailed Plans For
\ Raising Huge Army

Washington, April 5. - Detailed
plans of the war department for rails
ing an army numbering million IL
that is necessary Ito bring the gov
eminent of the German empire to
terms" were placed in President Will
sons hands yesterday in the form of
bill. prepared by the general staff,
and reviewed and revised in part by
Secretary Baker and the officers who
are his military advisers.
The president. as commander-in-
chief. already has approved the basis
adopted for the war army and prepara-
tions have been made at the war de-
partment for presenting the measure
to the military committees OF con-
gress. Secretary Baker said today 1t
would go to the house and senate COM
mittees as soon as the war resolution
was adopted. Major General Scott,
chef OF staff will explain the military
reasons for the need to train the num-
Der of men the bill will produce. This
is believed to be not less than 100000
to be trained within two years.
In the navy department. Secretary
Daniels announced during the day that
| contracts for approximately 200 sub
marine chasers had been let and addi-
tional contracts were being signed
each daY.
Mr.. Daniels conferred with Captain
| Wilson. recently commanding the
superdreadnauRht Pennsylvania. but
now assigned as chief of the entire
| patrol service on the Atlantic sea-
| board. Conferences also were held
with the engineering experts as to the
possibility of increasing the number of
11O-foot patrol craft to be ordered.
The scope of the war departments
army plan is gradually becoming clear,
although the details are being with
| held until they are sent to congress.
Included in the scheme must be the
/ funds and equipment necessary to es-
| tablish military training on a basis
never before attempted in the United
States.
There are MANY indications that it
is proposed to build up a fighting ma
chine composed exclusively of men in
their twenties and each man free from
home responsibilities or cares that
might embarrass his soldierly quail
| ties. A perfect military weapon is to
| be fashioned. officers say, If the army s
plan is accepted by congress. 1t will
| take time and money. but will furnish
such a force as will make it's weight
| tell against any troops in the world.
Presumably the Oldest men within
| the prescribed limits would be called
| out first. These classes would yield
the smallest number for training for
the percentage of men to assume
after 20 wears is reached. They would
be however. men in their most Vigor-
Gus years. ready for any harship. Each
succeeding increment of 100000 called
out for training would probably have
reached the same stage of physical
development by the time the training
had been given.
Physical standards Of the regular
army will be rigidly maintained.
Registration of all single men be-
tween the fixed ages will be big task.
Several million men must be enrolled
and examined physically before the
process of selection can be applied.
Army officers indicated today that
the governments policy leaves no
place for volunteer forces. They are
prepared also to urge against any
premature effort to send an army
abroad to fight. To be OF any aid in
the world struggle they say. only a
very considerable force. Of fully train
ed and highly equipped and organized
troops. with adequate independent
supply lines should 20 to Europe. To
do otherwise. one officer declared,
might make American troops a
menace rather than an aid to the
entente armies.