The Washington times., 1917-02-10
S0FTPEDALPLACED
ON ARMY INCREASE
Administration Said 10 Fear
Germany Would Misconstrue
Any Undue Activity.

sort pedaI has been placed on
all suggestions OF the army experts
to redouble the recruiting facilities
OF the regular army in view OF the
break with Germany. or to make any
redistribution OF forces.
The Administration, 1t IL stated.
fears that any undue activity along
this line would be misconstrued in
Germany and might be taken as an
excuse for a declaration OF war by
that nation in the same way that the
Russian mobilization was In the
closing days OF July. 1914.
EnIisted Strength 100000.
Inquiries made today OF war De
partment officials as to why the De
partment was not availing itself OF
the present opportunity to stimulate
recruiting and bring the army up TO
the war strength allowed by the Hay
reorganization act, passed last year.
brought the response that the officials
charged with this duty did not wish
to "embarrass Secretary OF War
Baker and the Administration"
At the present time the regular
army is just about 81 per cent OF the
maximum peace strength OF 175,O0O
allowed by the Hay act. That is 20
say that its present enlisted strength
does not exceed 100000.
Provision for Emergency.
While the act provides that the
maximum peace strength shall be at
tained- in Ave annual increments. dat
ing from July /, 1916. Section "a con
tains the following proviso. to the
use of. which President Wilson has
not yet resorted:
provided, That in the event of
| actual or threatened war or sim
liar emergency in which the pub
lie safety demands t.the President
| is authorized to Immediately or
ganize the entire increase author
lied by this act, or so much there
| OF as he may deem necessary, and
when. in the judgment of the
President, war becomes imminent.
all of said organizations that shall
then be below the maximum en-
| listed strength authorized by law
shall be raised forthwith to that
strength, and shall be maintained
as nearly as possible thereat SO
long as waE.Nor the imminence OF
war, shall continue"
Mistake. Officers Think.
In view of the time required to
train soldiers, many army officers
| feel that II is a mistake not to make
extraordinary efforts at this time to
| fill. up the compliments allowed by
war. On the basis of expiring en-
| listments only a third OF the present
| force OF 100000 have had more than
two years training. In his recent
| testimony before the Sente Military
! Affairs Committee, Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood. commander OF the department
| of the East. called attention specifi-
caIly TO the fact that filling up the
ranks OF trained soldiers by green
recruits resulted in a serious i'm
pairment OF the efficiency OF the en-
tire organization.
That being the case, 1t Is realized
that IL the President is to wait until
war is actually declared before di-
recting an expansion OF the regular
| force to the authorized strength, the
entire military fighting force of the
United States will face the eventual
ties of war in a condition OF less
than 80 per cent efficiency.
Measure Nearly Ready.
The Army War College. which has
been at work several months trying
to frame a universal military training
bill that will meet the various objec-
tions of members of Congress and
the Administration, is hoping to finish
the Work and suhmit II IN Secretary