Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-19
HOUSE COMMITTEE
WANTS VOLUNTEER
PLAN TRIED FIRST
Adopts Amendment Provid-
ing for Volunteers in In
crenents of 100000.
MINORITY REPORT
TO BE PRESENTED
Kahn to Recite >England's
Mistakes and Lead Ad-
ministration Fight.

Washington. April 19.--Friends and
opponents of the administrations plan
for raising an army by selective draft
lined up in congress today for the inl-
pending fight over the two systems.
In the house the military committee
was ready for the administration
measure with an amendment provid-
ing for calling volunteers in incre-
mcnts Of 100000 each and authorizing
draft only when the president decides
the volunteer plan is not adequate to
produce the armies desired. The vol
unteer amendment was adopted in the
cQmmittee by a vote of 13 to and Il
AAnority report was adopted in the
'committee by vote of 13 to and
minority report recommending the
selective draft system was drawn for
presentation to the house. An at
tempt probably will be made to press
the measure for passage Monday.
In the senate. the military commit
tee had voted 10 to IL to recommend
the administration bill virtually as it
was drawn by the army general stASf.
This was to be reported today and it
may he passed by the senate without
awaiting house action.
Wilson Determined.
President Wilson was still deter
mined that the selective draft should
prevail. and it seemed probable that
if necessary, he would appeal directly
to the people on the ground that the
nations safety depends on prompt en-
actment Of the general staff bill.
Without waiting for congressional
action on the army BILL the war de-
partment announced plans for civilian
officers training camps which will be
established May | at fourteen places
throughout the country. Members of
the officers reserve corps and appl-
cants for commissions in the new
army will be given training courses
under regular army officers beginning
May s. 1t is planned to turn out 10,-
600 trained officers by the middle of
f, July for the first 100000 recruits to be
| raised. Other prospective officers will
be given three months course War
department plans make no provision
for paying the men during the train
| ing period.
Kahn to Lead Fight.
| Representative Kahn ranking Re-
publican Of the military committee.
conferred today with Secretary Baker
He will be administrative spokesman
before the house on the question of
army preparation.
1t is expected Mr.. Kahn will present
! in minority report from his COM
mittee, letter Secretary Baker sent
to Chairman Dent which outlines
SAS"A'S INV Pui pooe VI tIle IlllllldE!
experts to provide places for 75o,-
600 individual volunteers in the ex-
panded regular army and naval guard
and their reasons for distrlsting any
| scheme for taking into the service
complete volunteer units. as proposed
! by the majority of the committee.
1 Representative Kahn will have
available, also. a detailed study of
England's struggle with the volunteer
system. made by American military
experts who watched the process. 1t
is understood these reports picture
the failure Of the system under great
est test in history. and point out the
attendant military disasters at the
/ front charged to it.